Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says Formula 1 should consider using reverse grids for their sprint qualifying races next year.
F1 proposed reverse grid sprint races three times in 2019 and 2020 but failed to win enough sport from the teams to include them in the regulations.
The sprint qualifying format, which will be used in three races this year, including the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, uses a regular qualifying on Friday to determine the starting order. But Binotto is eager for F1 to experiment with an inverted grid.
“I like it,” he said. “I like it because I think it can be interesting for the show and the spectacle.
“At the very beginning of the discussion about the mini-racing format as Ferrari, we were the ones who suggested it because I think whatever your position in the standings is, it kind of adds extra spectacle and that’s important for our fans. It’s important to the entertainment that F1 can provide. “
Binotto supports the F1 sprint qualifying experiment but said the sport needs to see how all three races go with the format before rating it.
“Having the qualification on Friday, only having an hour to prepare the drivers for it and then driving into a parc ferme, is certainly interesting because it jeopardizes the overall performance balance between the teams. So I am generally for it.
“I’m pretty sure we can go into it in detail. There are things that can be improved. But I think we can do it again [be] open to discussion with F1, FIA and the other teams, but I think we can only do this once the three races are over as part of the full experiment. “
Another alternative to the previous format that was proposed would be to see the Saturday run as an independent event and not to set the starting grid for Sunday, but to continue to award points.
“I hear that there are various suggestions, for example from drivers that the qualifying on Friday determines the starting grid on Sunday and I think that there will be a mini-race on Saturday with an inverse grid compared to the championship [order]. I think whatever ideas may be of interest, I think it’s too early to really judge and decide. “
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Italian Grand Prix 2021
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