2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, April 28 - 30

[PlatinumZealot]

It's about time they increased it. Teams were already at the limits of reliabilty for years now. And with the engine freeze and no exotic materials allowed it was silly to keep it a three.

[AR3-GP]

It's about time they increased it. Teams were already at the limits of reliabilty for years now. And with the engine freeze and no exotic materials allowed it was silly to keep it a three.

In theory there's no reason to need more than 3 because any PU can be detuned. What's going to happen now is teams will run them harder since they don't need to last as long. The cycle repeats itself. They'll be on the fringes of durability next year as well. If you aren't on the fringes, you aren't taking advantage of the regulations and are leaving laptime on the table. The calendar lends itself well to at least 1 or two in-season grid penalties so you would want to run the PUs in a way to maximize this.

[Edax]

If the PU are frozen, what is the solution to 2024 which will likely have even more GPs and sprint races.

Unconfirmed rumor is that they will change the qualifying format for the sprint into driving one lap backwards. Since this will not wear down the forward gears the gearbox allocation can remain the same.

Besides the added spectacle and the better visibility for the sponsor decals on the right side of the car this is also considered to provide a natural deterrent for the teams not to add vision impairing aero to the rearview mirrors.

[chrisc90]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

[organic]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

Fortunately there are no real backmarkers this year and all teams may fancy the possibility of getting 8th. But you're right - I don't expect drivers to be pushing that hard on Saturday considering the potential costs of mistakes are no higher and the points available and the differences between positions are minimal

[chrisc90]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

Fortunately there are no real backmarkers this year and all teams may fancy the possibility of getting 8th. But you're right - I don't expect drivers to be pushing that hard on Saturday considering the potential costs of mistakes are no higher and the points available and the differences between positions are minimal

Realistically they are fighting for 2 places. Theres a damn good chance that your going to have the 2 red bulls, the 2 ferrari and the 2 Merc's closing the top 6. Then theres alonso in there aswell so realistically only 1 point/place to play for, which will likely drop to Stroll, as the car is there for him.

Realistically, your not going to see a Williams, Haas, Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri or Mclaren fighting with the top 6; or even top 8.

Be much better qualifying, then picking a number out the hat and doing a reverse grid. Which would give those at the back greater chance of points, whilst creating a 'spectacle' that Liberty want to portray. (reverse grid works well in BTCC)

[dialtone]

To spice up the race weekend FOM should consider a new format together with the sprint race: for the sprint race only every driver will race with another random car on the grid, mighty be Max starts on a Williams and Charles starts on an Alpha Tauri. This will be a real show, looking forward to it being implemented next year.

[organic]

I say put the drivers all in F3 cars. Nobody could show me a better idea

[Big Tea]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

Fortunately there are no real backmarkers this year and all teams may fancy the possibility of getting 8th. But you're right - I don't expect drivers to be pushing that hard on Saturday considering the potential costs of mistakes are no higher and the points available and the differences between positions are minimal

Realistically they are fighting for 2 places. Theres a damn good chance that your going to have the 2 red bulls, the 2 ferrari and the 2 Merc's closing the top 6. Then theres alonso in there aswell so realistically only 1 point/place to play for, which will likely drop to Stroll, as the car is there for him.

Realistically, your not going to see a Williams, Haas, Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri or Mclaren fighting with the top 6; or even top 8.

Be much better qualifying, then picking a number out the hat and doing a reverse grid. Which would give those at the back greater chance of points, whilst creating a 'spectacle' that Liberty want to portray. (reverse grid works well in BTCC)

Even worse now the lower teams can not sacrifice tyres if they think they are more likely to get a point in the sprint.

[PlatinumZealot]

It's about time they increased it. Teams were already at the limits of reliabilty for years now. And with the engine freeze and no exotic materials allowed it was silly to keep it a three.

In theory there's no reason to need more than 3 because any PU can be detuned. What's going to happen now is teams will run them harder since they don't need to last as long. The cycle repeats itself. They'll be on the fringes of durability next year as well. If you aren't on the fringes, you aren't taking advantage of the regulations and are leaving laptime on the table. The calendar lends itself well to at least 1 or two in-season grid penalties so you would want to run the PUs in a way to maximize this.

Most teams chose to use four PU but they never openly said it. Nothing will change except for less penalties issued.

[mendis]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

I think this is a very good point. Teams from 5th position downwards should simply drive into pits af the formation lap. Saves so much more against risking all for zero rewards!

[AR3-GP]

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

I think this is a very good point. Teams from 5th position downwards should simply drive into pits af the formation lap. Saves so much more against risking all for zero rewards!

There's still the angle of the TV time for the sponsors of each team. They just have to do the laps with as little wear to the parts as possible but not much more than that. The top 8 will be dominated by RB/Ferrari/Merc/AMR

[Sofa King]

F1 isn’t static. If the new sprint format doesn’t work or isn’t entertaining it will be changed.

Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.

Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.

Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.

I think this is a very good point. Teams from 5th position downwards should simply drive into pits af the formation lap. Saves so much more against risking all for zero rewards!

There's still the angle of the TV time for the sponsors of each team. They just have to do the laps with as little wear to the parts as possible but not much more than that. The top 8 will be dominated by RB/Ferrari/Merc/AMR

[AR3-GP]

F1 isn’t static. If the new sprint format doesn’t work or isn’t entertaining it will be changed.

I think this is a very good point. Teams from 5th position downwards should simply drive into pits af the formation lap. Saves so much more against risking all for zero rewards!

There's still the angle of the TV time for the sponsors of each team. They just have to do the laps with as little wear to the parts as possible but not much more than that. The top 8 will be dominated by RB/Ferrari/Merc/AMR

F1 doesn't implement any control variables so they can't accurately measure whether or not sprints are actually "entertaining" or whether they will have damaging long term side effects.

As it is, all the increasing numbers are conflated with the general increasing interest in F1 because of social media and netflix, regardless of sprints.

If there's any increase in numbers, F1 will hijack the numbers to say the sprint did it but we can't be sure.

[Sofa King]

That seems like a jaded view. They will surely have surveys, stakeholder and sponsor feedback, most of which isn’t published. They have the other non-sprint races. Ultimately, it is a for profit enterprise and growth requires broadening the audience beyond us.

F1 isn’t static. If the new sprint format doesn’t work or isn’t entertaining it will be changed.

There's still the angle of the TV time for the sponsors of each team. They just have to do the laps with as little wear to the parts as possible but not much more than that. The top 8 will be dominated by RB/Ferrari/Merc/AMR

F1 doesn't implement any control variables so they can't accurately measure whether or not sprints are actually "entertaining" or whether they will have damaging long term side effects.

As it is, all the increasing numbers are conflated with the general increasing interest in F1 because of social media and netflix, regardless of sprints.

If there's any increase in numbers, F1 will hijack the numbers to say the sprint did it but we can't be sure.