F1: Bigger race weekend shakeup now looming – Domenicali (Update)

Domenicali is keen to ensure something is on the line in every session of a race weekend, reverse grids remain under consideration.

Asked by Corriere della Sera why there has been a recent feeling that the race weekend format must change, Domenicali replied: “Because you have to try – there are always many excuses not to do. It’s a principle of life.

“The purists always turn up their noses, but F1 has changed the way of qualifying dozens of times over the years. It is a requirement that cannot be postponed, to have even more spectacle.

“I would like there to always be a fight for something that counts for the title. We will address this issue in the next F1 Commission – the fans, the organizers, everyone wants that. The sprint was just the first example, which can be improved.

“In a normal weekend, consisting of free practice 1 and 2 on Friday, each session should put up for grabs either points or single qualifying laps or qualifying for a Saturday race, different and shorter, instead of the third free practice, maybe with the reverse grid mechanism.”

After a raft of grid penalties were issued at the Belgian and Italian GPs, the grid for both races represented something comparable to what a race would look like with an intentionally inverted starting order.

“We are putting a lot of things on the table,” Domenicali stated. “A lot of people say no, but we have seen on some occasions [like Spa and Monza] the beauty of having reshuffles in the race, more overtaking. We have an obligation to try.”

But will reverse grids really change anything? It depends on whether it’s a track you can pass on.

Monaco?  Never.

However, at Spa Verstappen still won the race by 18 seconds despite starting P14 on the grid. He also won the Italian Grand Prix from P7 and was set to do so comfortably even if the race had not ended behind the Safety Car.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also charged through the pack at Monza, starting P18 and finishing P4.

Would teams, who are spending millions to put a fast car on the track, agree to this socialist idea of having their car start at the back only to be taken out by some inferior wanker?

We think not.

(GMM) Stefano Domenicali insists the controversial ‘sprint race’ format is not the end of his efforts to spice up race weekends in Formula 1.

The F1 CEO wants the sprint format to be expanded from three rounds in 2022 to at least six rounds next year.

But he also sees other ways to make the weekends more exciting.

“We will address the issue in the next F1 Commission meeting,” Domenicali told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

“The fans, the organizers, everyone wants it. The sprint race was just the first example of what could be improved.”

When pressed for details, the Italian argues that a “normal weekend” for Formula 1 future should involve every single track session either “counting for points or as qualifying for a race”.

“We are putting a lot of things on the table,” says Domenicali, who represents Formula 1’s current American owners, Liberty Media.

“Many say no, but we have seen on some occasions the beauty of having a reshuffled race. We have an obligation to try, at least.”

As for the 2022 world championship, Formula 1 will almost certainly not get a 2021-style ultra-close title finale in Abu Dhabi this year due to Max Verstappen’s dominance.

Domenicali says the Dutchman now reminds him of Michael Schumacher.

“Like Michael, he focuses everything he does on the track,” he said. “He has matured a lot, learned to manage his emotions – a cannibal!

“In this way he reminds me so much of Michael.”