FLOYD ON F1: Top dogs not willing to run sprint races for peanuts

As the world awaits the start of the 2022 F1 season, it appears all is not well at camp Liberty Formula One.

Last week I wrote of the strange move by the powers that be to remove live timing, live television coverage, spectators and the media from the first test session at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. No explanations have been forthcoming.

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More significant is this season’s budget cap reduction. Last year the cap was set at $145 million (R2.24 billion). This season it is $140 million, which will further reduce to $135 million next year. The figures were agreed to by all involved, but the “sprint” experiment entered the equation, either as a form of qualifying or a race and the problems began.

Three trial sprints were run as qualifying rounds in 2021, the objective to regularly include the format within F1 as part of Liberty’s efforts to improve spectator experience.

Some of the teams expressed concerns. If it became a regular feature, the sprint distance of 100km would mean further degradation to power trains, possibly reducing reliability over a season and add to this the high risk of crash damage. Were these extra costs to be part of the teams reducing budget cap?

After negotiation it was agreed each team participating in the three trial sprints would receive $450 000, plus $100 000 for possible accident damage.

With a scheduled 23-race F1 season Liberty wants to run at least six sprints, in Bahrain, Imola, Canada, Austria, the Netherlands and Brazil. Liberty has again offered financial compensation and this has become an issue with the top teams, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.

This year all teams are offered $500 000 for the first five sprints with an extra $150 000 for each event above the initial five. If all six sprints are run as planned, this would benefit each team by $2.65 million. The stumbling block for the top three is the absence of compensation for accident damage. It was reasoned by Liberty that in 2021 there was minimal crash damage, which they believed demonstrated it was not a necessary requirement.

The top three requested the cap be raised to cover all possible costs incurred by the sprints. It appears the majority of F1 teams, the FIA and Liberty are opposed to such a proposal, and this leaves the final decision in limbo. Apparently any changes to the rules regarding sprint events require the support of eight teams.

Searching for an agreement Liberty proposed a compromise, reducing the number of sprints to a maximum of three, and hopes a decision can be reached prior to the next meeting of the F1 Commission next Monday. But if the three dissenting teams stick to their demands, the 2022 season might be forced to run without the sprint events.
Liberty claims the sprints were a success with fans globally.

Personally, I have yet to meet a F1 fan in favour of the new format. Admittedly most tend to be purists, happy with the European image of F1 rather than the new improved US version, but then it is all about entertainment and of course increased profits from new markets.

Meanwhile, rumours are strong regarding the possibility of F1’s return to Las Vegas by 2023. One can only hope it will not be anything like the original races, held in 1981 and 1982, when it was dropped from the calendar due to indifferent spectator support.

Not surprising really, as the “circuit” was a tight and boring run around the parking area of Caesars Palace Casino.

To see the 2022 F1 calendar, click here.