Silverstone’s Stuart Pringle: “If F1 should decide Silverstone is the right place for a sprint race we would totally support that and feel it would be a real sight for the fans”
With James Galloway and Craig Slater
Last updated: 11/03/21 12:08 pm
Silverstone is “fully supportive” of plans to test the concept of a new F1 sprint race at a British GP this year, as a final decision focuses on the sport’s plan to shake up selected race weekends.
Plans to introduce shorter races on Saturday in addition to the Grand Grand Prix at three events in 2021 received widespread support from teams when it was first debated last month and it looks like the put forward before the start of the season in Bahrain at the end of a month.
Silverstone was previously unveiled as one of the three places marked for a sprint race but F1 president Stefano Domenicali said The Daily Mail: “I can say that Silverstone will be holding a sprint race.”
Sky Sports understands that a decision on sprint races is to be taken either next week or next week, with Silverstone to host one of the three if the plans get the green light.
When asked if they welcomed the plans, Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle told Sky Sports: “Absolutely.
“If F1 should decide that Silverstone is the right place for a sprint race, we would be fully supportive of that and feel it would be a real sight for the fans.”
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The Gilles Villeneuve Canadian Circuit in Montreal, Monza in Italy and Brazilian Interlagos – which is similar to Silverstone for fast-paced, exciting racing with passing – are also thought to be in the framework of the other two sprint events.
This year’s British GP will take place on 16-18 July.
After running two Grands Prix behind closed doors last summer due to the pandemic of the revised 2020 F1 calendar, Silverstone hopes to be able to welcome a large crowd back. to an event that drew a race day crowd of 141,000 in 2019.
Explained: F1 sprint race plans
What is the recommendation?
F1 is to try three Saturday sprint races in 2021, lasting about half an hour each.
Lower points would be available and the results of Saturday’s event would set the grid for Sunday’s traditional Grand Prix major.
What would happen to standard qualifications?
This will move to Friday instead of Practice Two, with the usual three-part hourly results at those times setting the starting order for Saturday’s sprint race.
Hasn’t this been discussed – and rejected – before?
Sort of. In 2019 and 2020, back-grid races – where the competition order would have returned for the starting grid – were discussed with sports enthusiasts but were not adequately supported each time.
Mercedes was particularly opposed to the idea, suggesting that the sport should not look at artificial means to increase levels of excitement and instability at the top of car racing.
The difference in this latest recommendation is that the starting order would be set by certification performance results.
What are the possible barriers?
Following the idea of first discussion at the F1 Commission on 11 February, further talks between teams, the FIA and F1 have continued.
F1 and the FIA joint statement on the issue at the time said: “All the teams recognized the importance of engaging fans in new and innovative ways to ensure that An even more exciting weekend format, so there was widespread support from all parties for a new qualification format at some races, and a working group was asked to create a complete plan. “
McLaren boss Zak Brown told Sky Sports that “everyone wants the idea of trying something new”.
“I’m confident,” he said. “Whenever you have something new you try it. If it worked you keep doing it, unless it either changes it or you don’t do it anymore. I think it’s just positive for the sport. “
In a year when budget constraints are in place for the first time, the issue of spare parts for repairing damage is likely to be on the table, along with the more philosophical question of whether weekends would in a question where the tests would run ‘two bona-fide race winners.
Speaking in his interview with The Daily Mail, Domenicali said “we certainly don’t want to take away the fame of the Grand Prix itself” and “there will be no podium celebration. That will stay until Sunday”.