Sprint Qualifying: Good or Bad?

Over the weekend, the decision-makers in Formula One added a new event for three individual race weekends this season, beginning in July. Sprint race qualifying will be implemented at three Grand Prix weekends in 2021, in place of a third practice session to give fans a better experience both at the track and at home.

For those new to the sport, qualifying is the event the Saturday before the race to determine the starting order for the race on Sunday. Drivers go all out to record their fastest possible lap with the fastest lap time starting first, or pole position, and the slowest lap time starting in last. The new sprint qualifying changes the order of events leading up to the race. The normal qualifying session will be moved to Friday afternoon and the sprint qualifying will take place Saturday after a morning practice session. The event will be a mini race of sorts, only 100 kilometers, eliminating the need for pit stops, making it a "sprint" to the finish line. The traditional qualifying on Friday will determine the starting order for sprint qualifying on Saturday and the finishing order of the sprint race will determine the starting order for the Grand Prix race on Sunday. This change will have little to no effect on the races on Sundays but will dramatically change the weekend schedule. There are strong opinions on both sides but the change is certain to make for a more exciting and action-packed race weekend for the fans.

The Good

For fans like myself who are relatively new to F1, the new qualifying format is an exciting and welcome change to the three selected Grand Prix weekends. Fans will now get to see an additional race in place of a relatively boring third practice session. It also moves the traditional qualifying to Friday, extending the race festivities an extra day. Also, the sprint qualifying session will likely be more competitive when drivers are battling side by side for a better position in the Sunday Grand Prix. The sprint race format allows drivers to push their cars harder because the race is short enough not to worry about tire wear or fuel consumption. The top three finishers in the race will also earn championship points to add to their season totals, three for first place, two for second place and one point for third place. While many seem to think this will only benefit the teams at the top, I think we'll see drivers emerge from the midfield in the shortened and more competitive format to steal points and positions for their teams.

The Bad

On the opposite side of the argument are traditional F1 fans who are content with the current qualifying format. I understand the contempt for the sprint races in F1 as it changes the way teams strategize, but like all sports, rules change and athletes and their teams adapt and succeed under those changes. Many F1 reporters and enthusiasts have expressed their concerns with the new format and it's difficult not to respect their opinions. Sprint qualifying will completely change team strategies, it removes a third practice which eliminates the chance for teams to improve the car and could lead to many more dangerous and expensive crashes. The extra championship points awarded in the sprint races have also been a point of contention. Many seem to think the points are a gimmick and the real points should be earned during the Grand Prix on Sunday.

The first weekend with the new qualifying format will take place starting Saturday, July 18 at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. The F1 world will continue to debate the new sprint qualifying until we see the results from Silverstone in July.

Comment your thoughts on the new qualifying format and tune in to the next race this Sunday in Portimão, Portugal!