For Jacques Villeneuve, Sprint races add interest to Grand Prix weekends
Six sprint races have taken place this season, and the same number will be held next year. While the format has received some criticism, the Sprint has its defenders, such as the 1997 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve.
Since the 2021 season, sprint races have made their appearance in F1. Initially, they took place on three Grand Prix weekends, where there was a race on Saturday to determine the grid order for the Sunday event. The winner earned three points, the second-place finisher earned two points, and the third-place finisher earned one point.
In 2022, the top 8 drivers scored points, and this year, six countries hosted the Sprint: Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, the United States in Austin, and Brazil. The sprint race is also separate from the main race, with a separate qualifying session called the Shootout determining the grid for Saturday’s sprint. There is now only one remaining practice session, held on Friday morning.
« At least you have a result on Friday »
Some F1 drivers like the triple world champion Max Verstappen do not find any interest in these Sprint races. Others claim to see them as a way to liven up the weekend, like Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, in an interview given to the media PlanetF1.com.
« It’s great because it makes for a better Friday. There was never any intention to make it a better Saturday. People complain about Saturday, saying it’s not any better. Well, no, it’s supposed to make for a better Friday. Because that day can be very boring. At least you have a result right from the first day of the weekend, something to write about. So it’s good to have changes. It’s a sport, but every sport is a spectacle, rejoices the Canadian. »
« Then, the format can be adjusted, whatever, but it’s good. Not all races. As you’ve seen in MotoGP, it’s too much, and it becomes redundant. But it’s good to have different weekends as well. Because once you start having 23, 24, 25 races, if the same race weekend keeps happening every weekend, it becomes repetitive », emphasizes the former F1 driver.
« I am a traditionalist in certain things, but not in this aspect. Because, as long as it remains a sport, then it’s okay. For example, I am very opposed to the DRS. It’s like giving an advantage to a sprinter, or better shoes because he is a bit slower. That’s where the traditionalist comes into play because it takes away from the sport itself. This goes against the purist in me, but everything else… Whether there is a sprint or no sprint, it doesn’t affect the main race, so I totally agree because the sport needs a spectacle to exist. All sports that were not a spectacle have died, or nobody really follows », concludes Jacques Villeneuve.
China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar will host the six sprint races of the upcoming season.
