Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali dropped a small bomb this week about adjustments, including the possible shortening of races. The Italian stated that a majority is, but not all drivers agree with him (completely).
There was everything in the story that Domenicali, among other things, kept motorsport about his vision for the future. Reverse grids, more sprint traces: it came by before. Certainly an increase in sprints seems inevitable in the end.
Now there are six on the calendar, but the organizers of other Grands Prix also want to offer the fans more on Fridays than just free training sessions. There is understanding for that, even with the sprint opponent of the first hour Max Verstappen. “I understand that it is not fun for everyone to only watch free practice sessions on Friday,” says the Red Bull driver.
The suggestion of Domenicali to shorten races made more loose among the drivers. The reason: quickly bored young people. “We are already seeing on our channels that summary videos are doing well. A large part of the viewers only wants to see the highlights,” says Domenicali.
The Italian warns of convenience. “The F1 is doing well now, but that is precisely why we should not lean back. We have to think about the following steps.”
‘This is not going to work’
Nineteen -year -old Andrea Kimi Antonelli himself belongs to the ‘fast -bored generation’ that his fellow countryman Domenicali refers to. But that does not mean that the young Italian is in favor of shortened races. “I don’t think this will work,” says the Mercedes driver.
“Even with our long races, we are already able to make it with a one -stop strategy. You would have to come up with so many more rules for, for example, pit stops, and ultimately not much will change.”
Sprint weekends are appreciated by Antonelli. “They are fun. There is a lot of activity throughout the weekend. So if there are more of it, I am in favor.”
At the age of 44, Fernando Alonso is not part of the rapidly bored generation. That does not mean that he recognizes himself in it. The Spaniard likes to watch football, especially now that ‘his’ Oviedo is playing again in the Spanish La Liga. “But those competitions can also take a long time. I am really not looking concentrated for ninety minutes. I sometimes go to the kitchen and then I will come back,” says Alonso.
“There are always times of distraction,” emphasizes the Spanish veteran. “But I don’t hear anyone talking about shortening football matches. It’s a social problem, around the children. Not from the sport. So nothing has to be changed in Formula 1.”
Only exciting is no longer exciting
Verstappen clearly has the feeling that he has to defend the sports experience around Formula 1. “This is how sport works,” says the reigning world champion almost surprised. “The length of the races is fine. Sometimes it’s an hour and a half, sometimes almost two hours. You have that with other sports too. You have exciting competitions and very boring where you fall asleep.”
De Limburger thinks that only exciting races will eventually get bored. “You can’t always make it exciting. Because if it is always exciting, it gets normal and ultimately boring. It has to keep surprising: sometimes surprisingly exciting, sometimes surprisingly boring.”
Verstappen finds Esteban Ocon on his side. The 28-year-old Frenchman is surprised by the lack of patience in society. “If people are now sitting on Netflix and see a series that they like, they think it takes too long before a second season comes out. That’s how the world works now. But it is also nice to have to wait for something. Also on a Grand Prix.”
That does not alter the fact that Ocon wants to go somewhat in the proposal of Domenicali. “There are a few races that last two hours. Singapore for example; if you shorten it, nothing will change about the spectacle. But you are not going to shorten a race on Monza or Spa-Francorchamps.”
“I’ve said this so many times”
Alonso mainly thinks that little more is possible for drivers if races are shortened. “If you start in a Sprintrace in the back, there is no more time to make up for it. In a race you really have to be able to find your way forward, with which you come to drive where you belong at the end – with a good performance. A longer race gives you that option.”
But the Spaniard would mainly like to go back to a means from the past: refueling the refueling for 2010 during the race. “It is currently difficult to drive behind other cars. All tires usually have the same lifespan. Catching up is difficult.”
Refueling makes more possible, says Alonso. “I have said that so many times. If you can choose how much gasoline you drive, you get all kinds of different strategies. That produces more attractive races.”
Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali Dropped a Small Bombshell This Week About Adjustments, Including Possible Shortening Races. The Italian Stated that a Majority is in favor, but not all drivers (entirely) agree with him.
There was Everything In The Story That Domenicali Held at Autosport , Among Others, About His Vision for the Future. Reversed Grids, More Sprint races: It has leg menttioned more often. An Increase in Sprints Seems Inevitable in the End.
There are now six on the calendar, but the organizers of other grands prix also because to sacrifice the fans more on Friday’s than just free practice sessions. There is Understanding for this, equally with sprint opponent from the first hour Max Verstappen. “I understand that it is not fun for Everyone to only Watch Free Practice Sessions on Friday,” Says the Red Bull Driver.
Domenicali’s Suggestion to Short Races was more emotional Among the drivers. The Reason: Quickly Bore Young People. “We are already seeing on our channels that summary videos are doing well. A Large Proportion of viewers only because to see the highlights,” Says Domenicali.
The Italian Warns Against Complacency. “F1 is Doing Well Now, But That Is Precisely Why We Should Not Sit Back. We must already think about the next steps.”
‘This is not going to work’
Nineteen-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli himself belongs to the ‘quickly bore generation’ that his compatriot domenicali is referring to. But that Doessn’t Mean That The Young Italian is in favor of Shorted Races. “I don’t think this is going to work,” Says the Mercedes Driver.
“Equally with our long races, we can already manage with a one-stop strategy. You would have to come with so many more rules for, for example, pit stops, and in the end not much will change.”
Sprint Weekends Are Popular With Antonelli. “They are fun. There is a lot of activity through the weekend. So if there are more of them, I am in favor.”
Fernando Alonso, at 44, is not part of the quickly bore generation. That does not alter the fact that he recognizes himself in it. The Spaniard Likes to Watch Football, Especiate Now That ‘His’ Oviedo is Playing in the Spanish La Liga Again. “But Those Matches Can also Take A Long Time. I really Don’t Watch Concentrated for Ninety Minutes. I Sometimes Go to the Kitchen and Then Come Back,” Says Alonso.
“There are Always Moments of Distraction,” Emphasizes The Spanish Veteran. “But I Don’t Hear Anyone Talking About Shortening Football Matches. It is a social problem, around the children. Not of the sport. So Nothing Needs to Be Changed in Formula 1.”
Only exciting is no longer exciting
Verstappen Clearly Feels that has to defend the sporting experience around Formula 1. “This is how sport works,” Says the reigning world champion almost surprised. “The length of the races is fine. Sometimes it’s an hour and a half, Sometimes almost two hours. You also have that with other sports. You have exciting matches and very boring ones where you fall aslep.”
The Limburger Thinks that only exciting races will possibly Become Boring. “You can’t always make it exciting. It’s always exciting, that Becomes normal and ultimately also boring. It shoulde remain surprising: Sometimes Surprisingly Exciting, Sometimes Surprisingly Boring.”
Verstappen finds Esteban Ocon on His Side. The 28-year-old Frenchman is surprised about the Lack of Patience in Society. “If people are now on netflix and see a series that they like Like, they think it takes too long for a second season to come out. That’s how the world works now. But it’s also nice to wait for something. Also for a grand prix.”
That does not alter the fact that ocon hens to somewhat go along with domenicali’s proposal. “There are a few races that last two hours. Singapore for example; if you shorts it a bit, nothing changes to the spectacle. But you are not going to short a race at monza or spa-francorchamps.”
‘I have said this so often’
Alonso Mainly Thinks That There is Little More Possible for Drivers If Races are Shortend. “If you start at the back in a sprint racing, there is no more time to make up for it. In a racing you really have to be able to find your way forward, with you will automatic end up driving where you Belong Gives Execution.”
But the Spaniard Would Mainly Like to Return To A Remedy From The Past: Refueling Duration the Race, which was Abolished Before 2010. “Currently It Is Difficult to Drive Beind Other Cars. All Tires Usually Have. The Same Lifespan.”
Refueling Makes More Possible, Says Alonso. “I have said that so or. If you can choose how much fuel you drive with, you get all child or different strategies. That makes for more attractive races.”