After last year’s three entertaining and eventful Sprint weekend, the format is returning to Imola for Emilia Romagna GP. But what are the benefits of Sprint, what’s happened so far, and what’s new?
Ahead of the action this weekend – all live on Sky Sports F1 – we answer some key questions about a format that is set to deliver even more excitement for 2022.
What exactly is a Sprint?
Sprint is the name of the shortened Saturday race that launches in 2021 and returns in 2022, changing the usual weekend format and offering more wheeled action with a different race.
Effectively a scaled-down version of what we saw on Sunday, the racers ran more than 100km – which is a third of the usual race distance and in Imola’s case converted to 21 laps – in a single race. Flat sprint for grid positions for the Grand Prix and points for their championship hopes.
Replacing qualifying in seventh place, we should see Sprint in three more rounds in 2022, starting this weekend. The event kicks off at 3:30pm and is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and the Main Event, airing from 2:30pm.
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Max Verstappen loses two places in Sprint’s opening round at Sao Paulo GP
How it works?
The 20 drivers start in the order they qualified on Friday night – more on that below – and the 100km finish spot will then be the one in which they line up for the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
If you win, you’re starting Sunday’s race from pole position; if you’re 10th, you start in the same spot a day later, whereas if you have a technical glitch or crash, you’ll be behind and leave all the work behind.
Is there any point for Sprint?
Yes – and significantly more than last year in one of the key changes.
In 2021, only the top three drivers scored and only six were offered in total; three for the winner, two for the second and one for the three.
In 2022, the top eight will score and that total increases to 36. The winner will collect eight points, the second place will get seven points, and this continues in descending order to second. eight (one point).
The points provided mean Sprint is even more important in 2022.
Not only do more drivers – in addition to vying for grid spot for Sunday’s race – have a chance at points, but they can now win a total of 34 points over a weekend instead of the usual 26. often. Plus, if a driver takes all three Sprint points in 2022, that almost adds up to a race win on its own (24). Comfortable.
What has happened in the Sprint so far?
Sprint has been panned by critics ahead of its 2021 debut at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos – but no one can argue that the new format offers weekend entertainment. Max Verstappen won the British GP after beating Lewis Hamilton just before the line, before Valtteri Bottas won both the Italian and Brazilian GP Sprints for Mercedes, the latter of which featured an incredible sprint. from Hamilton.
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Lewis Hamilton’s slow start gave Max Verstappen the lead in the first round of the British Grand Prix
While not responsible for the direct controversy, Sprint also contributed to moments of extreme drama last year. At Silverstone, Verstappen’s lead over Hamilton in the Sprint resulted in the pair clashing on the first lap of Sunday’s race. Again at Monza, the pair collided a day after Sprint.
Meanwhile, in Interlagos, Hamilton’s return driver resulted in title rivals having to win again on Sunday, with Verstappen escaping a penalty for his driving and Hamilton taking the win. to re-establish his championship.
What happens to Eligibility?
The usual three-part knockout will still take place, but have been moved from the regular Saturday afternoon time slot to Friday night.
At Imola, the event takes place at 4pm BST.
The session goes through Q1, Q2 and Q3 as usual to find the fastest racer and determine the 1-20 order for the Sprint, then in turn – as mentioned above – set up the grid for the race on Sunday. Japan.
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Ferrari ambassador, Marc Gene, gives his views on the challenges the Imola track will bring ahead of this Sunday’s GP Emilia-Romagna
How many practice sessions are there?
There are only two training sessions this weekend, one less than usual, one hour each run as has been the case with F1 from this year.
Practice One begins Friday at 12:30 p.m., with Practice Two at 11:30 a.m. Saturday before the sprint.
Which is new?
Aside from the pluses, there’s also clarification on the critical location for Sprint 2022 events after drivers complained.
Last year, the winner of the Sprint race was awarded pole for the record book, but there is a correction for 2022 – with pole now credited to the racer placing the fastest time in qualifying, as usual rate at the weekend.
However, the driver who wins the Sprint will start Sunday’s main Grand Prix from first place, IE pole.
So the winner of qualifying ‘gets’ pole, and the winner of the Sprint starts at the pole for the race. Understood?
Are there any stops in the Sprint?
While not technically forbidden, the stops are few and far between for how short the Sprint is.
Unlike the Grand Prix, tire changes are not required, and unless the car is damaged or punctured or it rains, don’t expect them to leave action on the pit lane between the lights out and the checkered flags.
Drivers are free to run on any tire compound – hard, medium or soft – that they want.
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Lewis Hamilton was pleased with Mercedes’ progress over the weekend, with him and George Russell finishing fourth and third respectively.
And Grand Prix, will that change on Sunday?
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix’s 63 laps around Imola were unchanged and remained the main event over the weekend.
This year the lights are off at 2pm. Sky F1 construction starts at 12:30pm.
The usual score applies to race day, which is 25 for a win (or a maximum of 26 if the winner also takes the fastest lap) down to one point for 10th place.
The only difference is that the drivers who started in the top 10 are not constrained to start on tires but they have booked their best time in Q2 onwards. As a result, everyone has the right to choose freely throughout the race, although the usual two-compound rules that apply in a dry race ensure each car has at least one stop.
There are no other changes.
Where else will Sprint weekends take place in 2022?
The next Austrian Red Bull race will host a Sprint over the weekend of July 8-10, before the format returns to Interlagos on November 9-11, with three laps again to be held. Sprint’s home.
F1 had hoped to double the number of Sprints to six by 2022, but had to settle for compromise after several top teams complained about cost issues amid limited budgets.
Depending on how successful this year is, expect the Sprint format to have more features on the calendar in the future.
