Source:REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
[Saba Sports News] The structure of the Grand Prix weekend has always been a hot topic within F1 circles. Recently, Williams Team Principal James Vowles has called for F1 to consider adopting a two-day race weekend format, to allow for more Grands Prix in the future calendar. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently emphasized that the organizers need to continue exploring new structures for the Grand Prix weekend. Various potential reforms have been discussed – including shortening the Grand Prix distance to 300km, introducing reverse grid races, but the most attention has been on the Sprint format. However, in the discussion, James Vowles offered a different perspective, suggesting that instead of focusing on the Sprint, it might be better to reconsider whether three practice sessions are truly necessary. James Vowles stated: “I’m not worried about the Singapore Sprint. In fact, looking at viewer data, Sprint weekends generally have higher ratings; overall, it’s successful. What I would rather us discuss is whether we can move to a two-day event – just Saturday and Sunday.” Vowles also stated: “I would reduce practice time to make the event more engaging for viewers. By doing that, you ‘give back’ 24 days to the teams – which essentially means you could fit a few more races into a year. So, it’s a slightly different proposal. But for me, six Sprints is about the right number, I don’t mind where they are, Singapore is fine too.”