Red Bull team boss Christian Horner wants the FIA to decide on the status of sprint races in 2022 as soon as possible. With three sprint events in 2021, the FIA plans to host the new qualifying format at six venues this season.
Sprint races were introduced in 2021 as an alternative method of forming the final starting grid for Sunday’s feature race. On Friday, the starting order for the sprint race held on the following day was determined in the traditional qualifying session.
Races were run a third of the Grand Prix distances, with championship points awarded to the top three winners. However, the status of the sprint races is still unconfirmed as multiple teams contest budget allocations.
With the first sprint race of the 2022 season set to take place at the Bahrain Grand Prix in March, Christian Horner wants the FIA to decide at the earliest. The Red Bull Honcho said:
“I’m very puristic, I believe qualifying and the race are the fundamental aspects of a Grand Prix. I think the sprint races were interesting last year.” “I think the format wasn’t perfect. But if you don’t try something, you don’t know, and I think there are things that could be done to make it more exciting and interesting. But now it’s quite late and we have to make a decision pretty soon.”
Red Bull and Mercedes may be among the teams that have asked for additional finance, says Zak Brown
McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown claims top teams like Mercedes and Red Bull may have asked the FIA to increase their budget allocation for upcoming sprint races in 2022. The American boss feels that the newly introduced races do not justify the additional amount Some teams are checking with the FIA.
Zak Brown resents some teams trying to raise cost caps: “Some teams are still looking for excuses to raise cost caps and win world championships with checkbooks. Ongoing lobbying by certain teams to increase the cost cap on sprint racing damage continues example”. twitter.com/McLarenF1/stat…
Zak Brown has shared his views on the year ahead for McLaren Racing and the sport.
Zak Brown has shared his views on the year ahead for McLaren Racing and the sport Ongoing lobbying by certain teams to increase the cost cap on sprint racing damage is an ongoing example. twitter.com/McLarenF1/stat…
The teams received a $450,000 allowance to compete in the sprint races, as well as an additional $100,000 for accidental damage — all above the $145 million budget allotted to the teams in 2021.
However, according to Brown, there was little damage in the 2021 season and there is no reason to believe that the coming season will be any different. The 50-year-old McLaren manager lashed out at other teams, claiming some others have never had to show financial responsibility because of their backgrounds. He said:
“It might be new for some teams to actually have to manage a budget, but I think it’s in the spirit of the sport so you can certainly match income with expenses and solve that.” “But I think the income will go up Over time, and I think we have to be very careful to be financially sustainable, that certain teams take the opportunity to try and increase it all the time. We have to defend ourselves against that.”
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Red Bull and Mercedes are likely to face off again in 2022, with teams like McLaren and Ferrari poised to tussle for the title at every opportunity.
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