Weeks forward of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, which options the primary Dash of the yr, the groups have agreed on the format.
In a single fell swoop Stefano Domenicali and his F1 bosses get their means, lowering apply to a naked minimal (one hour) as – as beforehand reported – there will likely be only one apply session on Friday morning with qualifying for Sunday’s race within the afternoon.
Saturday will successfully be a stand-alone, with qualifying for the Dash within the morning and the Dash itself within the afternoon. The end result of the Dash – aside from potential crash injury – having no bearing on the Grand Prix.
“For as soon as I feel all of the groups have been aligned,” mentioned Frederic Vasseur, “it isn’t fairly often that it is the case so now we have to leap on it.
“The format is extra dynamic and you may talk about about doing it so late however on the finish of the day I feel if we’re all aligned then now we have to push for it.
“I just like the format,” he insisted. “I am not a giant fan of the standard FP2, typically it’s kind of boring, not for us as a result of now we have quite a lot of information, however I can think about for the spectators and even for you if you do not know in regards to the degree of gas, the engine mode and so forth it is most likely a bit boring, and to attempt to have one thing extra dynamic through the weekend is an efficient resolution.
“If you happen to watch soccer you are not watching the session on Wednesday when they’re coaching within the stadium,” he added, “we’re most likely the one sport the place we’re placing the coaching session on TV.”
Purple Bull boss, Christian Horner has beforehand described the choice to carry a Dash at Baku, a avenue observe with a repute for incidents, as “ludicrous”, whereas in Melbourne Max Verstappen reiterated that he’s not a fan of the Sprints, warning that additional tinkering with race weekend codecs may trigger him to rethink his future in F1.
Nonetheless, chatting with Sky Sports activities on the weekend, Vasseur, staff principal at Ferrari, the staff that greater than some other has talked of custom and DNA, and often made all method of threats by way of its resistance to vary, seemed to be absolutely on-board with the views of F1 bosses.
“After all, there must be the time for apply,” he admitted, “however the individuals are coming to see efficiency and the extra that you just give the groups and drivers the prospect to see who they’re, the higher it’s for the present.
“It isn’t as a result of we do not respect the traditions,” he insisted, “we respect the previous mind-set of our weekend, however it will be incorrect not to consider it.
“We even have a brand new technology which might be coming in which might be extra aggressive in asking for one thing completely different.”
“Aggressive in asking for one thing completely different”… is that what they’re protesting about on the streets of assorted cities in France… a brand new look to race weekends? Properly, who would have guessed? It should additionally clarify the continuing protests within the Netherlands, who would have thought all these farmers are F1 followers?
