Steiner calls for shorter F1 weekend format
- Published on 03 Feb 2019 14:24
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has suggested that Formula 1 should adopt a shorter race weekend format. Current commercial rights holders Liberty Media are discussing the possibility of switching up the current format to make the weekend more exciting.
Currently, the weekend begins with two 90-minute practice sessions on Friday before a final 60-minute practice outing on Saturday morning. Qualifying shortly follows the final practice session before, Sunday hosts the Grand Prix.
Liberty is also looking to expand the number of races on the calendar, a discussion that has seen some backlash from team bosses: "Over 23 [races] I think it gets difficult," Steiner said. "But what I would look into it is maybe shorten the weekend, instead of coming here on Thursday, coming in on Friday.
"Just do one long session on Friday afternoon. I understand that the promoter want to have cars on track on Friday but we could do that all on the Friday afternoon. I would more go with something like this than to reduce the races."
2019 will have 21 races on its calendar, matching the record of 2016 and 2018. 2020 will see a new race in Vietnam enter as a world championship event, which could increase the number of races further. However, five races (Spain, Great Britain, Mexico, Germany and Italy) do not have contracts beyond their races this year.
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Replies (4)
Login to replyDanimal5981
Posts: 370
I would allocate a testing track of choice at the beginning of the season, where the team could go to (if wanted) and test updates, once every 5 races (or 4 times per season at random), during a two day test, four hours each. Because of an annual allocation, the teams can set up semi-permanent residence there for a year, to have no exuberant transport costs.
Then, you can cut short the GP weekends to a more dynamic two day event.
A saturday practise of two hours, a Saturday qualy of one hour and a Sunday race of two hours. More testing and development, more dynamic race weekend; everyone wins.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
That's not a very bad idea to limit testing to one day. But, if the saturday's testing is washed out due to bad weather, it would pose a an issue for the car set-up. Not to mention, the transport and the travel delays and jet lags.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
It would force them to have to practice and do qualy under adverse conditions which could create some more interesting race weekends. I do enjoy watching the Friday practice sessions but probably wouldn't miss them too much if they were to go away.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
It has seemed to make for more interesting races when the teams haven't had Friday practice sessions to get to know the current conditions of the track and get their setup fine tuned. Friday sessions can be fun to watch for the fans but having a little longer session on Saturday morning with qualy in the afternoon and race on Saturday would probably be just as entertaining and save some money for the teams, especially the smaller ones.