F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thrust the sanctity of free follow into the limelight in an interview final weekend with SportTV. He mentioned: “I’m a supporter of the cancellation of free follow periods, that are of nice use to the engineers however that the general public would not like.”
Arguments in favour of slashing the three one-hour periods embrace taking away information from engineers and drivers to extend the probability of entertaining errors.
Mercedes driver Russell reckons skilled F1 drivers didn’t want the additional laps, so the F2 and F3 assist classes ought to choose up the additional observe time.
In response to being requested whether or not three follow periods have been vital, Russell mentioned: “I believe no is the reply. Clearly, the extra follow you do, the extra on top of things you may be, the extra comfy you may be with the automotive.
“I do not suppose it is proper that System 1 has 3 times the quantity of follow that you’ve got within the F3 and F2 classes.
“They need to be those to get extra follow, additionally as a result of they’re doing much less races, they do not get to check that usually.”
Russell implied Domenicali may need stretched the thought by eager to bin follow altogether, however that F1 proprietor Liberty Media’s makes an attempt to boost the schedule by including dash races – which transfer qualifying to a Friday rather than FP2 – had broadened his horizons.
He continued: “No follow could be too little.
“I wasn’t in favour of the dash races initially… however I actually benefit from the dash races and having motion on a Friday is significant for all of us and likewise for the leisure issue.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris backed the thought handy extra time to F2 and F3 to enhance the worth for cash of the collection, plus he appreciated the thought of lowered operating including to the strain F1 drivers face.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
He mentioned: “For my time in [F2, 2018], whenever you see the price of how a lot it’s to do that collection versus the quantity of laps you get, it is surprising… it is actually silly.
“To provide them extra observe time… it is positively a very good factor for junior drivers to get that from System 1.”
“FP1 into qualifying, that nature of it, I do love. It places me underneath strain, places the engineers underneath a bit extra strain and we get straight into the motion.”
However defending champion Max Verstappen reckoned F1 is likely to be suggested to largely depart the present format alone and as an alternative tackle different areas to spice up the spectacle.
The Crimson Bull driver mentioned: “I am not a fan of what number of races we do these days and I am not a fan of adjusting the entire format [without practice sessions] both.
“They must watch out to not change the entire DNA of System 1. I do suppose it is essential that they do not play with that an excessive amount of, as a result of then after all at one level it stops.
He continued: “The best way I used to look at System 1 after I was youthful, I actually appreciated it, trying ahead to the race on Sunday.
“If you accomplish that many races as we do these days perhaps you’ll be able to minimize out one follow session, however apart from that, I do not suppose it is advisable to change many issues.
“The one factor you need to take a look at is making the sphere nearer, so the gaps between all groups, which ends up in extra thrilling racing normally.”
Extra reporting by Adam Cooper and Filip Cleeren
