F1 commission approves sprint format changes

The teams, along with Formula One Management and the governing FIA, agreed to reorder the sessions on sprint weekends so that Friday has one free practice followed by a sprint qualifying ‘shootout’.

FILE PHOTO: Formula One driver Alex Albon, of Williams Racing during a sprint race. | Photo Credit: AP

Formula One teams agreed changes to the sprint format on Monday to make race weekends easier to follow.

The teams, along with Formula One Management and the governing FIA, agreed to reorder the sessions on sprint weekends so that Friday has one free practice followed by a sprint qualifying ‘shootout’.

The 100km race will then be held on Saturday morning before qualifying for the main Sunday grand prix.

Last year saw qualifying for the grand prix on Friday with sprint qualifying and the standalone race filling Saturday’s schedule.

The changes will be submitted to the FIA’s World Motorsport Council on Feb. 28 for formal approval. The 24-race season, starting in Bahrain on March 2, has six scheduled sprint weekends.

The Commission also agreed at the meeting in London to increase the power unit allocation to four per driver for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The drag reduction system (DRS) activation for the race will also be one lap after the start rather than two.