Hey, let’s spill the F1 tea! Toto Wolff, the big cheese at Mercedes, just dropped a bomb about Formula 1 sprints. You know, those 100-kilometer races that came onto the scene in 2021? Well, they’re thinking of giving it a makeover. Shake things up a bit.
So, we already saw changes for 2023 – sprints on Saturdays after a quickie qualifying session. But now, hold on to your helmets, because there’s talk about rejigging the whole weekend vibe. Picture this: sprint qualifying on Fridays, the actual sprint on Saturdays, and then Grand Prix qualifying later that day. Yep, it’s like they’re rearranging the furniture for a fresh look.
Toto spilled the deets in Brazil, admitting he’s a bit lost in the sauce with the current sprint weekend setup. When asked about the rumored changes, he was all in, saying, “That’s correct.” Apparently, talks are happening with the big shots, including Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali.
But, of course, there’s a twist. Cars being stuck under parc fermé rules after FP1 on Fridays is causing a bit of a headache. Teams end up stuck with a not-so-optimal setup unless they’re cool with starting from the pit lane. Tricky, right?
Now, some peeps suggest extending the sole practice session from 60 to 90 minutes. But Toto’s not buying it. He’s all about keeping the thrill, the “jeopardy,” as he calls it. “The idea of the sprint weekend was to make more jeopardy, and that is achieved by having 60 minutes,” he said.
Aston Martin’s performance director, Tom McCullough, is vibing with Toto’s call for a less confusing setup. He even spilled that his dad, a die-hard F1 fan, sometimes needs a reminder on how the sprint weekend rolls. Relatable much?
