Shorter 'sprint' races will be introduced to Formula 1 this year to set the grid positions at three grands prix, series bosses have agreed.

 

Points will be awarded to the top three finishers - three for first, two for second and one for third.

 

Grid positions for the shorter race - to be called 'sprint qualifying' - will be set by moving qualifying to Friday.

 

Avoiding calling the event a 'race' is to ensure that the grand prix remains the main focus of the weekend.

 

It will be the first time in history that the grand prix is not the only race on an F1 world championship weekend.

 

The shorter 'sprint qualifying' race will run to about one-third of the distance of a grand prix, which has a maximum length of just over 305km (190 miles).

 

 

Sounds interesting, think if the field as a whole was closer then it would probably be more interesting a concept. Tho I’d like to see a reverse grid for the sprint could end up with some interesting race grids that way and if the tyre could make it through a sprint without disintegrating then a 100km of no holds barred racing would be fab

 

Yeah it's one of Tilke's best by far. That, Sepang & COTA are his holy trinity.

I always forget Sepang is one of his because it has gravel and isn’t a carpark. I do miss Sepang on the calendar.

Talking of modern circuits, Portimão has to be one of the best. It’s incredible. All the elevation changes make for wonderful viewing

Alfa Romeo’s have been granted a review of Kimi’s penalty from Imola:

 

While the FIA rejected documents relating to F1 Sporting Working Group, F1 Commission and Race Director notes, and a suggestion that when there is ambiguity that the competitor should be given the benefit of the doubt, it did accept documents demonstrating that there had been no previous example of such a penalty in F1.

 

Alfa Romeo felt this was relevant because the stewards’ decision had suggested the regulations had been ‘consistently applied’.

 

In its explanation for going ahead with the review, the FIA said that its interpretation was based on previous examples of offences from F3 and F2, but it conceded there had not been on occasion when such a rules breach had happened after a red flag.

 

The FIA said: “Subsequent to the decision and as part of this present hearing, the Stewards have discovered that the specific cases that they referred to were not following a Red Flag.

 

“While this was only one element among many considered by the Stewards, this information was unavailable to the Competitor at the time of the original decision and was a part of the discussion by the Stewards and is therefore deemed significant and relevant.”

Leave Nandos point alone you bitter Bettys x

 

 

 

Portimão providing a pretty decent race thus far. Even if I strongly disapprove of the current leader.

Max's fastest lap :(

Ended up being a great race. Lots of action up and down the pack! And a solid double points finish for RenaultAlpine

 

 

Mazespin continues to prove he has no place in F1. Over a Minute behind the car in front and then blocks Perez from lapping him. Get him out

Ended up being a great race. Lots of action up and down the pack! And a solid double points finish for RenaultAlpine

Mazespin continues to prove he has no place in F1. Over a Minute behind the car in front and then blocks Perez from lapping him. Get him out

I genuinely don't get maze-spin being there still. Definitely not ready for F1 yet.

I genuinely don't get maze-spin being there still. Definitely not ready for F1 yet.

 

 

Gene Haas was seriously considering pulling out of F1 last year and stopped pumping in money. Mazepin provides a large chunk of that now and Schumacher also brings German sponsors with him.

Steiner would likely have kept on at least one of last years drivers if he could afford it. Quite simply with the Russian's funds the team might not exist in F1 anymore

I would also kick Raikonnen out, he's a veteran but today it was like if it were his debut.

the Japanese guy in Alpha Tauri doesn't seem to have adapted yet either

 

Hamilton and Verstappen were very good today, Norris keeps impressing too

and the two Alpine cars were great too

 

The worst the usual suspects, Bottas showing once more he is incapable of passing other cars

I'd give a 0 to Ferrari in strategy, they ruined Sainz's chances today

Alfa Romeo’s have been granted a review of Kimi’s penalty from Imola:

Which has been rejected.

Kimi made one mistake. That does not mean he needs to go!

 

Mazepin is being outshone and is making stupid errors. Will see if he can improve in any way over the next few races

 

I thought it was an ok race but the final positions weren’t that much different - save for some fine drives from the likes of Alonso (although that was partly strategy/benefits of qualifying outside the top 10)

 

Was a bit gutted that Vettel and Russel went backwards

 

Bottas has the same issue every team mate of Max will have. You cannot compete with an excellent driver

 

I really hope Max can get the title this year. Lewis is just so strong....

Edited May 3, 20214 yr by Herbs

Former Red Bull junior driver Patricio O'Ward has been guaranteed a test with the McLaren F1 team at the young driver session in Abu Dhabi later this year after winning his first Indycar race.

The Mexican was released by Red Bull at the end of 2019 due to insufficient points for a F1 superlicense but a deal with Zak Brown means his victory at Texas Speedway means another chance to show if he could make it in the top tier of motorsport.

 

Definitely think more F1 teams should be looking beyond F2 and F3 for young drivers

Former Red Bull junior driver Patricio O'Ward has been guaranteed a test with the McLaren F1 team at the young driver session in Abu Dhabi later this year after winning his first Indycar race.

The Mexican was released by Red Bull at the end of 2019 due to insufficient points for a F1 superlicense but a deal with Zak Brown means his victory at Texas Speedway means another chance to show if he could make it in the top tier of motorsport.

 

Definitely think more F1 teams should be looking beyond F2 and F3 for young drivers

Using Ericsson as a baseline: towards the end of his F1 days he did solidly, if unspectacularly (bearing in mind Leclerc really *is* a top driver). And he's performing much the same in a top Indycar team. There are certainly some upcoming/experienced drivers that could do very well in a top F1 team (O'Ward and Herta in particular).

Okish race not the greatest and not one to look back for years to come. I hope it does have an permanent fixture on the calendar in Portugal. Mazespin poor so ever he makes Ide look good from what I've seen, :P.

At the Bahrain GP, which ended with a spin and a crash, he was criticised for jumping the queue in qualifying with a similar complaint levelled three weeks later at Imola.

 

As for Portimao, it was again in qualifying where it started, branded a “f***ing idiot” and a “dumbass” by Nicholas Latifi who felt Mazepin had blocked him.

 

Just over 24 hours later, Sergio Perez called the Russian rookie a ” f***king idiot” too when he ignored blue flags and held up the race leader. Mazepin was handed a five-second penalty for that.

The race didn't quite live up to expectations but I think everyone was expecting a thriller like last year. Plus it had to follow 2 amazing races this year so far. There was some action at the front at least and some interesting midfield battles. Lewis was on fire after dropping to third!

 

I think everyone knows Mazepin is nowhere near good enough to be an F1 driver and he's only there due to $$$. But like was mentioned if that's what kept us with 20 cars on the grid then so be it. Plus we always need someone who can cause a safety car out of nowhere. *Maldonado flashbacks*

In some much welcome and heartwarming news, Romain Grosjeean will get his dream drive in Lewis Hamilton's 2019 title winning Mercedes W10 at the French GP for a series of demonstration laps and then have a full test day a couple of days later.

 

Well done Mercedes, well done.

Aaaaah good. Happy to see he gets a final spin out in an F1 car to sign off his career

Mercedes giving Red Bull a lesson in strategy