Gone are the days of two-day Formula 1 weekends
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated that the idea of two-day weekends has not been retained for the near future of the premier class.
Last year, the density of the calendar due to the Covid-19 crisis had forced the leaders to test a new format for the Grand Prix: weekends over two days with only one free practice session followed by qualifying and the race the next day.
It had taken place on two tracks, namely the Nürburgring and Imola, a track to which the F1 paddock is heading this weekend.
The loss of income for developers as a major argument
Organized behind closed doors, the two events had been satisfying by bringing their share of uncertainty and spectacle, relaunching the idea of this kind of weekend in the future for a calendar that aims to be even busier.
However, the idea will not be implemented in the short term by the leaders of F1, notably because of the loss of revenue for the promoters of the circuits involved.
All the organizers really wanted to have a complete experience for the spectators, so we have to respect that,” he said to F1.com.
On the pilots’ side, this format had been fairly well received, and many of them would not have been opposed to a format change.
« This means 23 fewer days per year when 20 cars take to the track and pollute, so it’s a positive point,” said Lewis Hamilton. « For us, I think it has made things much more difficult! ».
Lewis Hamilton: « For us, I think it made things a lot more difficult! »
The seven-time world champion argues that a team must be at the top immediately and doesn’t have time to catch up in case of any problems with this format.
« Normally, there are two sessions on Friday, which allows time to make lots of changes to the settings, and if we are struggling, we have time to catch up. Starting on Saturday, there isn’t enough time. We only have one session to be at our best and make the right adjustments before qualifying. That makes things very difficult.
In any case, there will be no major format change of this kind in Formula 1 in the very short term, despite an increasingly busy Grand Prix calendar.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will indeed start on Friday this year with adjusted schedules due to the commemoration of the death of Prince Philip.
