New F1 race format still in limbo

The proposed Saturday sprint race, replacing the day’s traditional qualifying session, is still very much on the cards for a revised F1.

After the Bahrain Grand Prix it appeared a decision to trial the new format would be reached before this weekend’s race. But not everyone was convinced the matter was settled, as the financial implications were still not ratified.

Formula One management in the form of new CEO Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn, managing director of Motor Sports and technical director for the Formula One Group, are solid protagonists of the new concept. They are not convinced that extra funding, beyond their proposed $145-million (about R2.1-billion) budget will be necessary.

Team chiefs Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner from Red Bull do not agree. They are looking for a substantial figure to cover the extra running costs plus the strong possibility of mechanical issues and crash damage. They estimate it could require up to $400 000 extra. Others do not agree and a solution still seems to be a long way off.

Domenicali wants to start the trial run at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone scheduled for mid-July. Who is going to blink first? Talking of budget restrictions, the proposed $30-million maximum annual remuneration for drivers looks set to appear next season and is liable to create some issues within the current lineup.

One must wonder whether those on a higher figure would be prepared to take a pay cut and stay on for the love of the sport, or would we witness some open spaces becoming available?

This weekends’ race will carry the title of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and will run at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola).

Red Bull are reported to be bringing more performance to the Italian track. Add this to the talk of both Red Bulls suffering differential problems and Max Verstappen reportedly losing as much as 0.3sec per lap in Bahrain and it could be an epic race to the line, between the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers.

Wolff has also suggested that neither Imola nor Portimao circuits suit the W12 and could give Red Bull the upper hand for both races. I wonder if this is not just one more delivery of sand covered in hessian, as has been the norm for so many years.

Let us hope it will be a better weekend for Sebastian Vettel and Nikita Mazepin. The Russian had a less than illustrious start to his F1 career when he threw it all away on lap one, leaving the Haas looking very second hand.

Vettel will hopefully be able to settle behind the wheel of the Mercedes powered Aston Martin and show some of the polish that took him to four world titles. It is still early days.