Six F1 sprint qualifying races in 2022, more points could be awarded and number may increase despite mixed views of fans

FORMULA ONE chiefs could make their new sprint qualifying format the standard at future grands prixs.

Fans have been mixed over the new format that sees a short Saturday race dictate the grid for Sunday’s GPs.

Managing director, Ross Brawn, however, says promoters have been lapping up the extra race, which was trialled at Silverstone and Monza.

Both races saw high-profile crashes between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen and Brawn says the appetite for the sprint qualifying has been huge – so much so, there will be a further six sprint races in 2022.

He said: “It’s open. It could evolve that way, but if it does, it will be because it’s the best thing to do.

“We are taking it carefully step by step and off the back of six you can decide whether you want to increase the number.

“I don’t think we should be afraid of doing that because, if we did that, it would be a measure of the success of the sprint.

“And if that is the format for the future then we have gone about it the right way.

“Equally, we may conclude that having it as a showcase event adds interest to the season.”

Brawn however, admits that the decision to award pole position to the winner of the sprint race – rather than the fastest driver over one lap – was a mistake.

Among the changes, he said that the number of points available in the sprint races could be increased to make it more appealing.

He added: “Talking to the drivers about the sprint, they’ve said Friday is great now because they get in and get an hour of practice and they have to go for it.

“Friday had pretty uniform support from most of the drivers. The only ones who were a little apprehensive were the rookies who didn’t get as much running as they might have enjoyed.”

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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk