Formula 1

F1 Drivers React To Standalone Sprint Races Amid Fan Criticism

Fans aren’t so happy with the addition of sprint races at three of the weekends of the 2022 F1 season. The first sprint events were held last year at Silverstone, Monza, and Interlagos, and while fans expected them to come to an end with the 2021 season, it doesn’t look like the F1 is going to remove them any time soon.

Now, Ferrari driver and current leader Charles Leclerc has commented on the new race type, admitting that it could add “excitement for the Saturday”.

– Haas F1 Media

Current rumours point towards the sprint races becoming their own standalone events from 2023, so Leclerc gave his view on what this could bring to the calendar:

“This could be a thing.

“This will help us to take a bit more risk maybe during sprint qualifying without losing too much on the Sunday – in case you do a mistake.

“It could add a bit of value of excitement for the Saturday. This actually could be a good idea.”

This weekend will see Kevin Magnussen take on his first sprint race. He reported how he feels to the press:

“I think the qualifying idea is a good suggestion. If the qualifying on Friday meant the grid position for Sunday, and also for the sprint race, that could be quite fun.

“You add another spectacle point to the weekend…you can fully go for it in the sprint race.”

Lance Stroll of Aston Martin wasn’t so positive about the changes, however, admitting that he “wouldn’t want to see the change”.

He said: “I like the way it is. There are points and there’s risk/reward. I thought that was the whole idea of the sprint race – to make it interesting for the fans.

“I think it’s nice to see drivers that are maybe further back fighting for positions on Sunday.

“And if you’re starting up at the front, you might not like that so much. But that how it is. I wouldn’t want to see that change.

“I think if it is going to be a sprint, it might as well be a proper sprint that puts pressure on Sunday.”

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: alex@grandtournation.com

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