The Sprint Qualifying rules could evolve

Next weekend, the Silverstone Grand Prix will inaugurate the first Sprint Qualifying in its history. In preparation for this event, the F1 Sporting Regulations have therefore been amended for the occasion. This new qualifying format will also be held at Monza as well as on a third race outside of Europe later this year, which has not yet been revealed.

For several months, discussions between the FIA, F1, and the teams have allowed the regulations that will come into force at Silverstone to be established. This was developed during the Austrian Grand Prix before being accepted and ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, yesterday in Monaco.

However, this system has still not been tested and Michael Masi claims that the regulations could be subject to change if certain aspects need improvement.

I believe that we have been very lucky to have seen this absolutely collaborative approach since the beginning of the year. We have had many meetings involving all the team’s sporting directors, ourselves at the FIA, and obviously F1, to fine-tune things, set them aside for a week so that everyone can read them again and find the little things, Michael Masi said.

« Honestly, each of us is completely open to the idea that there may be things that no one has thought of, but also to the idea that after the first trial, we take stock internally and see what worked, what didn’t work, and other areas that need to be refined.

« Honestly, this is something new for all the people involved, especially in the context of F1. The regulations have traditionally been structured in a very specific format that meant no Grand Prix was held with a sprint qualifying.

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« Everyone is very open and said, even this morning [last Sunday], that we should work together and see what comes up, everything we haven’t considered, even if everyone has read them [the rules] thoroughly today, » he concluded.