Several team bosses in Formula 1 have expressed their approval of the changes made to the F1 Sprint format for the 2024 season, stating that it has made the race weekends more flexible. The recent Chinese Grand Prix featured the first Sprint race of the season and showcased the revised schedule. Under the new format, Friday’s activities consist of a single practice session followed by the Sprint Shootout, leading into Saturday’s Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying. This adjustment to the arrangement has also allowed teams to make modifications to their car setups between the two Saturday sessions. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella mentioned that this opportunity to make changes to the car’s balance has made the weekend more forgiving, as it allows teams to address any issues or make adjustments based on tire behavior. Stella further explained that this change has been welcomed by the engineering team as it provides valuable insights into the car’s performance during the Sprint race.
Aston Martin’s Performance Director, Tom McCullough, recently discussed the various choices the team had to consider before the race in Shanghai. McCullough mentioned that they had numerous discussions regarding the rear wing level set-up and other factors. However, he emphasized that making significant changes during a 19-lap sprint stint is challenging, especially compared to the main race.
According to McCullough, the adjustments made for this race were more significant than anticipated due to the lack of data resulting from China’s extended absence from the F1 calendar. He explained that the rear ride heights of the 2019 cars were three times higher than the current rear ride heights, and the stiffness of the car, as well as other factors like tires and aerodynamics, were also significantly different. The track grip itself was worse, particularly in terms of rear limiting, which was predicted considering the tire characteristics and the way the current generation of cars operates.
McCullough further mentioned that Aston Martin followed their simulation and preparation process. They realized that they learn the most during high fuel long-running sessions, where they can observe the performance of the car over a longer period. Based on this, they made some changes after the Sprint race, considering the additional 70kg of fuel and the specific tire requirements.
However, McCullough emphasized that these changes were not major and that all teams in the pit lane would have made similar adjustments. He highlighted the importance of understanding how the car performs in different conditions and fuel loads to optimize its performance.
On the other hand, Haas faced a significant challenge during the midweek turnaround. Nico Hulkenberg experienced severe degradation during the Sprint event, causing him to drop from 13th to last place. Haas Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu, revealed that Hulkenberg’s initial setup for the Sprint race actually made the car worse. Fortunately, a change in the setup allowed Hulkenberg to salvage a point for the team.