In the “confusing” sprint race format, nobody takes any risks – Wolff

F1 decided to test sprint races at three Grand Prix in 2021, with the 100km sprints on Saturday forming the starting grid for the full-length race on Sunday.

The two sprint races that F1 has held so far at Silverstone and Monza have produced mixed results at best. The running order was largely set after the first lap, as the drivers usually resigned themselves to following the train due to the lack of pit stops and overtaking maneuvers.

With only small points for the top 3 and the starting position for the race on Sunday, Mercedes boss Wolff believes that the drivers should not take any risks in the sprints because the risk-return balance is not quite right.

“At first everyone is confused,” said Wolff. “I don’t know how it is with you, I don’t even know what session is when.

“I don’t think the sprint race format as it is right now is of much use because nobody is going to take any serious risks.

“There are not enough points at stake and the risk of jeopardizing your Sunday Grand Prix with points up to 10th place is simply not worth the risk.

“So what we saw is a combination of general overtaking difficulties because the speeds on the straight are very similar, but also because nobody takes a risk even in turns 1 and 2.”

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Wolff said F1 was right to test the format and hopes it will deliver better results at Interlagos when the third and final sprint event of 2021 is scheduled. However, the Austrian does not believe that the sprint format as it exists today should be retained for the next year.

“I think let’s try again in Brazil, let’s see if something changes, but that was a worthwhile experiment and for me, and that’s just a personal opinion or the opinion of my engineers here, it’s not a fish, not a Meat.” he explained.

“I think sprint races were worth trying – I’m not sure we’ll keep them.”

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes AMG, with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images