Formula 1’s inaugural sprint event of 2024 will occur at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, accompanied by yet another alteration to the format. However, the modifications made for 2024 indicate that the critics of sprint races are correct.
Some individuals perceive the adjustments to the sequence of sessions as an enhancement – including our F1 team here at Moving. Transferring sprint qualifying to Friday allows for the return of traditional Saturday qualifying for the grand prix, which will be well-received by traditionalists. Nevertheless, if the purpose of sprint weekends is to provide added excitement to each day of a race weekend, this change contradicts that objective.
In the previous year, having the official qualifying session on Friday evening meant that there was a must-see session on the first day of track action. Now, the main Friday session is a diluted battle to determine the grid for the sprint, which can be easily ignored. F1 has failed to differentiate sprint qualifying from the main qualifying session, which seems perplexing. If a separate qualifying session for the sprint is necessary, it should be made more captivating to attract viewers.
Although many individuals did not favor the concept of “Sprint Saturday,” where sprint qualifying and the race occurred on the same day, Saturday morning proved to be a suitable time slot for sprint qualifying. If one did not have the time to watch every session, they would likely prioritize main qualifying on Friday evening, the sprint race on Saturday afternoon, and the grand prix on Sunday. This format provided fans with engaging content each day and positioned the secondary qualifying session in a time slot that was convenient for both interested and uninterested viewers.
However, it is now effortless to skip the sprint qualifying session, leaving nothing to entice viewers on Fridays beyond the dedicated hardcore fans. This move by F1 diverges from its goal of attracting more viewers throughout the weekend, beyond the usual super fans who enjoy following practice sessions.
Furthermore, F1 is inadvertently conveying that the sprint race is inconsequential. Placing it on Saturday morning undermines its significance, as it becomes a mere warm-up act before the main event of grand prix qualifying. This renders the sprint race disposable, with the focus shifting to qualifying. F1 will not have two compelling storylines to promote on Saturday evening, as the attention will solely be on pole position. This outcome is likely not what F1 intended for its sprint weekends.
In conclusion, if you have never been a fan of sprint races, it seems that F1 shares your sentiment. The sprint sessions have been relegated to less significant parts of the weekend, making it easier for fans to overlook them. One could argue that this is a considerate move from F1, given the increasing demands of following the sport. However, it is doubtful that F1’s intention was to make the sprint sessions easily dismissible. If that were the case, why include them in the first place? The recent changes implemented by F1 do not seem to align with the objective of generating more interest in sprint races.