FLOYD ON F1: Reverse grid debate gets food for thought

Last Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix was intriguing and somewhat prophetic. A few top drivers opted to incur penalties for power unit or gearbox changes and started from the back of the grid.

A damp qualifying resulted in pole for McLaren’s Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari second, Williams’ George Russell third and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton fourth.

The battle was on from turn one and Hamilton slipped down the field as those at the back began fighting to reach the sharp end. As it all settled Norris led and held on until finally being beaten by the weather gods – a heartbreaking result for the young Englishman.

What I found interesting and somewhat prophetic was the grid line-up and the expected excitement and drama as those aces at the rear charged through the field. It was almost a reverse grid, a concept that has been around as far back as the Bernie Ecclestone era.

Thankfully the proposal has been regularly rejected by many involved in the sport. Unfortunately the issue of reverse grids is currently under discussion and has again received support from Mattia Binotto of Ferrari, who feels it would be a boost for F1’s entertainment value.

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But it appears he may be a lone voice as Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer and Toto Wolff of Mercedes are not in favour. Szafnauer was reported as saying: “I don’t think Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, should start entertaining weight penalties, reverse grids – all that sort of stuff.”

Wolff blocked last year’s proposal and is still totally against it. He suggested reverse grids could be used in junior formulas to see the overtaking ability of drivers and was quoted as saying: “It’s not something we should even come close to in Formula 1.”

Watching last weekend’s race and witnessing the difficulty experienced by top drivers attempting to overtake a few of the usual back markers, certainly did not have me on the edge of my seat.

Modern F1 cars and their aerodynamics sadly do not lend themselves to close quarter overtaking moves and neither do the current tyres. Hopefully the new generation of F1 car – due to debut next year – will allow such driving.

But until that has been successfully demonstrated, reversing the grid is more likely to cause both current and future teams to reconsider the investment and participation.

To spend millions and then fall foul of a “gimmick” to improve entertainment seems the antithesis of the “pinnacle of motorsport”. I wonder what Enzo Ferrari’s opinion of Binotto’s proposal would have been?

Too see the standings in the 2021 F1 Driver’s Championship, click here.