F1 sprint news LIVE: Teams approve new shootout qualifying session for Baku
The F1 Commission and the FIA have approved new sprint weekend format changes which will see an extra qualifying session added to the schedule for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The new order of play sees a new ‘sprint shootout’ take place on Saturday morning instead of a second practice session, with traditional qualifying on Friday now setting the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
It means there will be just one practice session over the course of the weekend, while Saturday is designated ‘sprint day’. The result of the Saturday sprint – a 100km dash, roughly a third of the distance of the grand prix – will not impact the grid for Sunday, as opposed to the past two years. Points will be awarded to the top-eight, as was the case in 2022.
Elsewhere, Mercedes have shaken up their Formula 1 management team, the editor of the German magazine who published the controversial AI interview with Michael Schumacher has been sacked and Christian Horner believes as many as six teams could break the 2022 cost cap.
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F1 NEWS AND UPDATES
NEW: F1 sprint shootout format approved by teams for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
COMMENT: Why F1’s sprint shake-up could be the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen
EXPLAINER: What is a sprint race in F1 and how does new qualifying shootout work?
Editor of German magazine which published Michael Schumacher’s AI interview sacked
Mercedes shake up Formula 1 management team with unexpected job swap
F1’s sprint shake-up could be the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen
17:11 , Kieran Jackson
Comment by Kieran Jackson
A mere three races into the new Formula 1 season, and after three weekends dominated by Red Bull’s unfathomably quick 2023 car, it has not taken long for the sport’s chiefs and law-changers to rattle the cage.
To be more specific, Max Verstappen’s cage.
Changes announced on Tuesday to the sprint weekend format – the highlight being a new ‘sprint shootout’ session to replace a largely redundant second practice on Saturday – are designed to increase competition when cars are out on track.
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, there will be just one practice session, on Friday. Qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix will follow, before ‘sprint day’ on Saturday sees a quickfire qualifying session precede the 100km dash, around the tight twists of Baku. It’s sure to be an intriguing few days.
Ignoring the absurdity of changes being made to a race schedule just three days before the event starts, the modifications will largely be well-received by the masses. Less practice and more action mean more interest. More eyeballs. More money.
Except this latest upheaval does not have the support of F1’s latest domineering hotshot.
Why F1’s sprint shake-up could be the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen
F1 sprint shootout format approved by teams for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
16:50 , Kieran Jackson
The F1 Commission and the FIA have approved new sprint weekend format changes which will see an extra qualifying session added to the schedule for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The new order of play sees a new ‘sprint shootout’ take place on Saturday morning instead of a second practice session, with traditional qualifying on Friday now setting the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
It means there will be just one practice session over the course of the weekend, while Saturday is designated ‘sprint day’.
Full story below:
F1 make wholesale changes to sprint weekend format for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
F1 sprint shootout format approved by teams for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
16:40 , Kieran Jackson
Under the old sprint weekend format, used since the sprint’s introduction into Formula 1 in 2021, a 60-minute FP1 on Friday was followed by traditional qualifying, which dictated the starting grid for the Saturday sprint race.
But now, that Friday qualifying session will take on added weight as it will set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, regardless of what happens in Saturday’s sprint race.
On Saturday, instead of what was seen as a generally pointless second practice session on Saturday, a new ‘sprint shootout’ will take place to form the starting grid for the sprint race later in the day.
It will follow the same Q1-Q2-Q3 format but the session times will be shorter than traditional qualifying: Q1 will be 12 minutes, Q2 will be 10 minutes and Q3 will be eight minutes.
F1 sprint shootout format approved by teams for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
16:33 , Kieran Jackson
BREAKING NEWS:
The F1 Commission and the FIA have approved new sprint weekend format changes which will see an extra qualifying session added to the schedule for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The new order of play sees a new ‘sprint shootout’ take place on Saturday morning instead of a second practice session, with traditional qualifying on Friday now setting the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
It means there will be just one practice session over the course of the weekend, while Saturday is designated ‘sprint day’.
More to follow...
What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying work?
16:02 , Kieran Jackson
F1 sprint is set for its biggest ever season this year with six sprint races on the calendar for 2023 - doubling the amount from 2022 and 2021.
The 100km Saturday dash, first introduced at the British Grand Prix last year, has proven popular with teams and fans alike and will be present at more than a quarter of Grand Prix weekends during the 23-race season.
There was an unanimous agreement to increase the number of sprint events amongst F1 teams at a meeting of the F1 commission meeting last year, following discussions with the FIA and a vote amongst the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).
As it was last year, the F1 sprint is a 100km race with no mandatory pit stops and drivers racing flat-out to the chequered flag.
As it was in the 2022 season, the top eight drivers score points, with the driver who finishes P1 receiving eight points.
What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying work?
Lewis Hamilton and teams to vote on radical new sprint format
15:56 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton will be among a whole field of drivers waiting with anticipation as the F1 Commission vote on Tuesday for radical changes to the sprint weekend format ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The event in Baku this weekend is the first of six scheduled sprint weekends in the 2023 season, but modifications to the schedule of play are expected to be passed by all 10 teams and the FIA.
Under the proposed new rules, qualifying for Sunday’s race would take place on Friday afternoon after first practice, with Saturday declared ‘sprint day’ with quick-fire qualifying for the sprint on Saturday morning before the shortened 100km dash in the afternoon. Sunday’s grid would not be dictated by where cars finish the sprint, as that order would be pre-determined by Friday’s ‘usual’ qualifying session.
F1 sprint changes for Azerbaijan Grand Prix to be voted on by Commission on Tuesday
15:44 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s an explainer on the current and potential new sprint format:
Current format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for sprint)
Saturday: Free practice 2; sprint (positions dictate order for Sunday’s race)
Sunday: Race
New format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s race)
Saturday: Quickfire qualifying (for sprint); sprint (finishing positions do not impact Sunday starting grid)
Sunday: Race
Christian Horner responds to Max Verstappen retirement talk
15:18 , Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner has downplayed retirement talk surrounding Max Verstappen after the double world champion raised the prospect of quitting Formula 1.
With modifications to the sprint weekend format likely to come into force next week in Azerbaijan, Verstappen said at the last race in Australia that he wasn’t sure how long he’d continue in the sport if modifications to the race weekend are made.
Verstappen, who has a £40m-a-year contract with Red Bull until 2028, has stated in the past his dislike of sprint races.
A two-time F1 world champion at 25, Verstappen currently leads this year’s World Championship by 15 points and while Horner admits the Dutchman is unlikely to continue in the sport as long as 41-year-old Fernando Alonso, the Red Bull team principal believes he will continue to race while that “passion burns within him.”
“Max is his own man and he’s very, very strong in his opinions and on his outlook on what he wants to do in his life,” Horner told Sky Sports News.
‘Max is his own man’: Christian Horner responds to Verstappen retirement talk
Lewis Hamilton and teams to vote on radical new sprint format
15:02 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton will be among a whole field of drivers waiting with anticipation as the F1 Commission vote on Tuesday for radical changes to the sprint weekend format ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The event in Baku this weekend is the first of six scheduled sprint weekends in the 2023 season, but modifications to the schedule of play are expected to be passed by all 10 teams and the FIA.
Under the proposed new rules, qualifying for Sunday’s race would take place on Friday afternoon after first practice, with Saturday declared ‘sprint day’ with quick-fire qualifying for the sprint on Saturday morning before the shortened 100km dash in the afternoon. Sunday’s grid would not be dictated by where cars finish the sprint, as that order would be pre-determined by Friday’s ‘usual’ qualifying session.
Daniel Ricciardo ‘full steam ahead’ with scripted F1 show
14:44 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo revealed he is “full steam ahead” with a new scripted F1 series – and casting will begin “pretty soon.”
The Australian, who was dropped by McLaren at the end of last year, is not on the Formula 1 grid in 2023 and instead occupies a third driver role at world champions Red Bull.
The 33-year-old is confident he can find a seat to return to the sport next year but admitted during numerous appearances at the Australian Grand Prix that he has enjoyed prioritising off-track endeavours so far in 2023.
One such activity has been the creation of a new scripted F1 series on American streaming service and Disney-owned platform Hulu, which was first announced last June.
Ricciardo, one of the stars of Netflix’s behind-the-scenes F1 documentary Drive to Survive, will be the executive producer of the as-of-yet unnamed show.
A fictional Drive to Survive? Ricciardo ‘full steam ahead’ with scripted F1 show
F1 sprint changes for Azerbaijan Grand Prix to be voted on by Commission on Tuesday
14:15 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s an explainer on the current and potential new sprint format:
Current format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for sprint)
Saturday: Free practice 2; sprint (positions dictate order for Sunday’s race)
Sunday: Race
New format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s race)
Saturday: Quickfire qualifying (for sprint); sprint (finishing positions do not impact Sunday starting grid)
Sunday: Race
Mercedes shake up Formula 1 management team with unexpected job swap
13:58 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes have shaken up their Formula 1 management team with key personnel James Alisson and Mike Elliott swapping jobs.
In a surprise turn of events, Elliott will take up the position of Chief Technical Officer while Allison will return to his role of technical director, 20 months after moving into the CTO position.
The shuffle, driven by Elliott, comes as Mercedes target a return to the top of the sport as they attempt to adapt to a change in regulations last year which left them trailing behind Ferrari and, more prominently, Red Bull.
More below:
‘We’ve reversed the roles’: Mercedes shake up F1 management team with shock job swap
Lewis Hamilton evaluates Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bull
13:30 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton admits it could be a “long time” until Mercedes catch Red Bull this season with the reigning world champions dominant in the opening three races of the 2023 campaign.
The seven-time F1 world champion, who has not won a race since December 2021 in Saudi Arabia, was on the podium for the first time this season in Australia three weeks ago.
Hamilton, whose contract at Mercedes expires at the end of the season, was not overly optimistic about Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bill’s hefty advantage.
More below:
Hamilton on Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bull: ‘We can develop quickly’
Red Bull ‘got around’ a cost cap process labelled a ‘farce’ by former F1 team owner
12:52 , Kieran Jackson
Eddie Jordan has labelled the Formula 1 cost cap process a ‘farce’ and insists Red Bull ‘got around’ the rules given their superiority in the sport currently.
Red Bull, who won both world championships last year and the Drivers’ title in 2021, were found guilty of a minor overspend of the 2021 budget cap regulations – the first year such restrictions have been imposed on teams.
Christian Horner’s team were fined £6m and docked 10% of their allotted car development time – involving wind-tunnel runs and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) testing – but so far that punishment has not impacted the frontrunners.
Red Bull have won three out of three races at the start of 2023 and look set to dominate for the second year running, with their rapid RB19 at times lapping a second quicker than the rest of the field on raceday.
Jordan, who founded his own F1 team and was also a pundit on BBC’s coverage of the sport from 2009-2015, slammed the sport’s financial regulations and insists they have not had the “desired effect.”
Red Bull ‘got around’ a cost cap process labelled a ‘farce’ by former F1 team owner
F1 sprint changes for Azerbaijan Grand Prix to be voted on by Commission on Tuesday
12:32 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s an explainer on the current and potential new sprint format:
Current format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for sprint)
Saturday: Free practice 2; sprint (positions dictate order for Sunday’s race)
Sunday: Race
New format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s race)
Saturday: Quickfire qualifying (for sprint); sprint (finishing positions do not impact Sunday starting grid)
Sunday: Race
Michael Schumacher - Editor of German magazine which published AI interview sacked
11:59 , Kieran Jackson
The editor-in-chief of a German magazine that used an artificial intelligence programme to produce fake quotes from Michael Schumacher has been sacked.
“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect,” said Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of Funke media group which publishes the Die Aktuelle magazine.
The magazine was labelled “disgraceful” by fans online for depicting the AI responses as an “exclusive interview” on their 15 April front cover.
“As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn. Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today,” Ms Pohlmann said.
More below:
Editor of German magazine which published Michael Schumacher’s AI interview sacked
Lewis Hamilton and teams to vote on radical new sprint format
11:44 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton will be among a whole field of drivers waiting with anticipation as the F1 Commission vote on Tuesday for radical changes to the sprint weekend format ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The event in Baku this weekend is the first of six scheduled sprint weekends in the 2023 season, but modifications to the schedule of play are expected to be passed by all 10 teams and the FIA.
Under the proposed new rules, qualifying for Sunday’s race would take place on Friday afternoon after first practice, with Saturday declared ‘sprint day’ with quick-fire qualifying for the sprint on Saturday morning before the shortened 100km dash in the afternoon. Sunday’s grid would not be dictated by where cars finish the sprint, as that order would be pre-determined by Friday’s ‘usual’ qualifying session.
When is the next F1 2023 race?
11:30 , Kieran Jackson
When is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?
The fourth race weekend of the 2023 season, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, takes place from Friday 28 April - Sunday 30 April.
Currently the schedule is as follows: first practice takes place at 10:30am (BST), before qualifying for the Saturday sprint race at 2pm (BST).
On Saturday, a second practice session is slated in for 10:30am before the sprint race at 2:30pm (BST). Currently, the grid for Sunday’s grand prix will be set by the finishing positions in the sprint, with points on offer to the top-eight.
The race on Sunday has a start time of midday (BST).
Christian Horner suggests six teams have broken Formula 1 cost cap
11:16 , Kieran Jackson
As many as six teams could be in breach of the Formula 1 cost cap for 2022, according to Red Bull chiefs Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Controversy overshadowed Red Bull’s double world championship triumph last year when they were found to be guilty of a minor overspend breach of the 2021 F1 budget cap – the first year such regulations were enforced.
Red Bull were fined £6m and docked 10% of their car development time – yet there is now concern growing amongst the paddock about last year’s sums, which were submitted to the FIA on 31 March.
As a result of the tough economic climate and inflation, Horner revealed that as many as six teams have made it known at F1 Commission meetings that they are at risk of missing the 2022 cost-cap figure, which stands at £111m.
“A danger for 2022 is that there could be six teams in breach of the cap,” said Horner, as last season drew to a close. “Energy prices have been exponential, but thankfully we’ve been protected from that.
Christian Horner makes shock Formula 1 cost cap prediction
F1 sprint changes for Azerbaijan Grand Prix to be voted on by Commission on Tuesday
10:59 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s an explainer on the current and potential new sprint format:
Current format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for sprint)
Saturday: Free practice 2; sprint (positions dictate order for Sunday’s race)
Sunday: Race
New format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s race)
Saturday: Quickfire qualifying (for sprint); sprint (finishing positions do not impact Sunday starting grid)
Sunday: Race
Daniel Ricciardo ‘full steam ahead’ with scripted F1 show
10:43 , Kieran Jackson
Daniel Ricciardo revealed he is “full steam ahead” with a new scripted F1 series – and casting will begin “pretty soon.”
The Australian, who was dropped by McLaren at the end of last year, is not on the Formula 1 grid in 2023 and instead occupies a third driver role at world champions Red Bull. The 33-year-old is confident he can find a seat to return to the sport next year but admitted during numerous appearances at the Australian Grand Prix that he has enjoyed prioritising off-track endeavours so far in 2023.
One such activity has been the creation of a new scripted F1 series on American streaming service and Disney-owned platform Hulu, which was first announced last June.
A fictional Drive to Survive? Ricciardo ‘full steam ahead’ with scripted F1 show
Christian Horner responds to Max Verstappen retirement talk
10:26 , Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner has downplayed retirement talk surrounding Max Verstappen after the double world champion raised the prospect of quitting Formula 1.
With modifications to the sprint weekend format likely to come into force next week in Azerbaijan, Verstappen said at the last race in Australia that he wasn’t sure how long he’d continue in the sport if modifications to the race weekend are made.
Verstappen, who has a £40m-a-year contract with Red Bull until 2028, has stated in the past his dislike of sprint races.
A two-time F1 world champion at 25, Verstappen currently leads this year’s World Championship by 15 points and while Horner admits the Dutchman is unlikely to continue in the sport as long as 41-year-old Fernando Alonso, the Red Bull team principal believes he will continue to race while that “passion burns within him.”
“Max is his own man and he’s very, very strong in his opinions and on his outlook on what he wants to do in his life,” Horner told Sky Sports News.
‘Max is his own man’: Christian Horner responds to Verstappen retirement talk
Mercedes shake up Formula 1 management team with unexpected job swap
10:13 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes have shaken up their Formula 1 management team with key personnel James Alisson and Mike Elliott swapping jobs.
In a surprise turn of events, Elliott will take up the position of Chief Technical Officer while Allison will return to his role of technical director, 20 months after moving into the CTO position.
The shuffle, driven by Elliott, comes as Mercedes target a return to the top of the sport as they attempt to adapt to a change in regulations last year which left them trailing behind Ferrari and, more prominently, Red Bull.
More below:
‘We’ve reversed the roles’: Mercedes shake up F1 management team with shock job swap
Lewis Hamilton evaluates Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bull
09:59 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton admits it could be a “long time” until Mercedes catch Red Bull this season with the reigning world champions dominant in the opening three races of the 2023 campaign.
The seven-time F1 world champion, who has not won a race since December 2021 in Saudi Arabia, was on the podium for the first time this season in Australia three weeks ago.
Hamilton, whose contract at Mercedes expires at the end of the season, was not overly optimistic about Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bill’s hefty advantage.
More below:
Hamilton on Mercedes’ chances of hauling in Red Bull: ‘We can develop quickly’
F1 Commission to vote on new sprint weekend format
09:53 , Kieran Jackson
Here’s an explainer on the current and potential new sprint format:
Current format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for sprint)
Saturday: Free practice 2; sprint (positions dictate order for Sunday’s race)
Sunday: Race
New format:
Friday: Free practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s race)
Saturday: Quickfire qualifying (for sprint); sprint (finishing positions do not impact Sunday starting grid)
Sunday: Race
Michael Schumacher - Editor of German magazine which published AI interview sacked
09:49 , Kieran Jackson
The editor-in-chief of a German magazine that used an artificial intelligence programme to produce fake quotes from Michael Schumacher has been sacked.
“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect,” said Bianca Pohlmann, managing director of Funke media group which publishes the Die Aktuelle magazine.
The magazine was labelled “disgraceful” by fans online for depicting the AI responses as an “exclusive interview” on their 15 April front cover.
“As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn. Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today,” Ms Pohlmann said.
More below:
Editor of German magazine which published Michael Schumacher’s AI interview sacked
Lewis Hamilton and teams to vote on radical new sprint format
09:48 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton will be among a whole field of drivers waiting with anticipation as the F1 Commission vote on Tuesday for radical changes to the sprint weekend format ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The event in Baku this weekend is the first of six scheduled sprint weekends in the 2023 season, but modifications to the schedule of play are expected to be passed by all 10 teams and the FIA.
Under the proposed new rules, qualifying for Sunday’s race would take place on Friday afternoon after first practice, with Saturday declared ‘sprint day’ with quick-fire qualifying for the sprint on Saturday morning before the shortened 100km dash in the afternoon. Sunday’s grid would not be dictated by where cars finish the sprint, as that order would be pre-determined by Friday’s ‘usual’ qualifying session.
