FLOYD ON F1: The flip side to sprint racing

The concept of F1 sprint weekends has never gone down well with me. Call me old fashioned if you wish, but I prefer to be labelled a purist or traditionalist when it comes to Formula One.

Having followed the sport for just about ever, I feel the essence of F1 is in the long and proud history of the apical point of motor sport, rather than in the new goals of enhanced entertainment value.

Last weekend the final test run of the proposed sprint qualifying created an issue which I believe will have to be considered if this format is to become a permanent fixture.

Following the Friday programme employed for sprint weekends, we had the first free practice followed by qualifying. I refer to the normal F1 qualifying run over three-timed sessions with race grid positions set by the quickest times.

This system has worked well over many years.

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We learned later that evening the FIA technical team had discovered an infringement with the DRS system on pole sitter Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. A rear wing DRS element when opened was 0.2mm bigger than the regulations permitted and the matter had been referred to the race stewards. The offending wing was removed and impounded by the officials involved.

To cut a long story short Hamilton’s DRS system was deemed to have infringed the regulations and he was disqualified from the qualifying run. He would have to start from the back of the field, and he also had incurred a five- grid position penalty for a change of his internal combustion engine (ICE). Whether you agree or not, we have to accept that F1 rules are rules and must be complied with.

Being a sprint weekend the Friday qualifying positions only apply to the grid positions for the sprint, not the Grand Prix. It is the result of said sprint that sets the F1 grid on Sunday.

Hamilton drove brilliantly through the field to finish fifth, so with his ICE penalty he was to start 10th on the Sunday grid. Surely this is offering any driver in a similar position the opportunity to totally nullify the effect of the steward’s decision to punish the infringement.

Most of the top drivers would be able to improve their position in a 24-lap sprint event by some margin. No matter how small an improvement, it still obviates the original penalty issued by the stewards and a driver of Hamilton’s ability clearly demonstrated he could reduce that penalty.

Please Liberty Media and FOM let’s think hard before introducing these new F1 spectator attracting, but rather pointless exercises.

F1 might gain some viewers but lose many more, because right now I have memories of a board game where one got lucky and was given a “get out of jail free” card – perhaps the forerunner of sprinting.

To see the F1 drivers’ world championship standings, click here.