Silverstone to host 1-of-3 F1 Sprint Races (Update)

(GMM) The ‘super qualifying’ sprint races to be trialed in Formula 1 this year will only last half an hour, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed.

Just as new concerns emerge over the viability of the race in Montreal this season, it now emerges that Silverstone will join Monza and Interlagos as hosts of the three-weekend trial.

“Everyone here is delighted with this initiative,” Silverstone’s Stuart Pringle told the Daily Mail.

“The sprint race can be an electrifying added extra dimension.”

Domenicali has travelled to Bahrain for talks with the teams aimed at finalizing the details of the format.

“We are finalizing the intricacies of it,” the Italian confirmed.

“For sure we do not want to take away the prestige of the grand prix itself. That will remain the climax of the weekend.

“It will provide some meaningful action the day before the race. It will give fans, media and broadcasters more content. It will last about half an hour. There will be no podium celebration. That will wait until Sunday,” Domenicali added.

“But points will be awarded – how many is yet to be decided – towards the world championship and determine the grid for the race itself.”

Silverstone has been chosen to pioneer a revolutionary new sprint race at this year’s British Grand Prix.

Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali has told Sportsmail that the Northamptonshire circuit is one of three venues that will trial the half-hour blast — on Saturday, July 17 in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 fans, Government restrictions for Covid-19 permitting.

The concept — one of the biggest changes to the weekend schedule in Formula One history — is that qualifying will be held on the Friday of the event with the order from that determining the starting grid for the sprint race, which in turn will decide grid positions for the Grand Prix on Sunday.