2023-04-26 08:09:00
Haas team boss Günther Steiner is not a child of sadness and not every rule change is well received. He likes the new suggestion of the FIA and “Liberty Media” to force sprint races and hold a second qualifying session. The old mode with a practice session on Saturday morning was “pointless”.
Haas team boss Günther Steiner thinks changing the Grand Prix format on Formula 1 weekends with a sprint race is a good idea, despite more work. “A second qualifying is much better for the fans and also for us because it’s exciting,” said the 58-year-old Italian before the premiere this week in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku: “It’s happening even more now with two qualifying sessions and two races – and I think that’s great for the sport.”
The qualifying for the main race will already take place on Friday afternoon in Baku. On Saturday, instead of a second training session, there will be a shortened qualification for the sprint race that will follow later. This means that on the six sprint weekends this season there is only one pure training session on Friday, Saturday is entirely dedicated to the sprint format. Formula 1 announced this on Tuesday.
More action than desire
“I definitely prefer the new program,” said Steiner, the boss of Nico Hülkenberg, who is currently the only German Formula 1 driver. The previous format with training on Saturday mornings was “rather pointless” because “you couldn’t change anything on the car.” , said Steiner from the US racing team and added: “You just went out there, did laps and tried to understand the tires – that’s not very exciting for the fans.”
Formula 1 also wants to strengthen the show element and ensure more action. Unlike before, the result of the sprint no longer determines the starting positions for the Grand Prix on Sunday. The creators of the racing series hope that drivers and teams will take more risks in the 100-kilometer sprint race.
In Baku, a sprint will be held on a street circuit for the first time in Formula 1. The racing teams are therefore worried that there could be more accidents and dangerous situations in the two qualifications and two races. It will be completely new for returnee Hülkenberg, who will contest a sprint for the first time ever. “I approach things with an open mind and just accept the challenge,” said the 35-year-old. The Rhinelander only returned to Formula 1 this year after a forced break of three seasons without a permanent cockpit. In 2019 there were no sprints.
(END/ADP)
1682498858
#Formula #stepping #gas #sprint #events