F1 still ‘ironing out’ details of sprint race plan at Bahrain GP

Formula 1 still needs to “iron out” a few details surrounding its Saturday sprint race proposal before the plan is approved, according to Haas boss Guenther Steiner.

F1 is hopeful of introducing a new Saturday sprint race at three events this year, with Silverstone, Monza and Brazil understood to have been selected as the venues to trial the new weekend format.

Under the plans, a qualifying session would be moved to Friday - replacing the second practice session - before a 100km qualifying sprint race on Saturday would be used to determine the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.

Reduced points would be handed out to the drivers who finish in the top three positions and it is understood that a podium procedure would not take place in order to distinguish the shortened race from the main event, with several drivers highlighting concerns about the importance of not devaluing a grand prix win.

Championship bosses originally hoped the final details of the proposal would have been defined and agreed upon ahead of the start of the season, but further talks are set to take place with the teams at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

While teams are generally in favour of trying out the concept, there are still issues that need to be addressed before the plan gets final approval, including rules surrounding parc ferme conditions and potential additional costs relating to damage.

“There’s a few details to be ironed out but I think we’re in a fast moving world and we just need to adapt to it to stay current,” Steiner said. “For me, that’s the key.

“I think we’ve got enough information now that should help more, which I think it will, that we can get ready. I don’t see a big issue. Obviously it is a change from the past that we start the season without knowing all the timetable of the year.

“We’re still in this, I call it the pandemic times, so I think it’s a little bit down to that one that we’re now used to a little bit of uncertainty. At some stage we will get back to what we knew exactly before we start the season, but I think we can live with it.”