Saturday evening, on the Losail circuit, several champagne corks could fly into the Qatari skies. In the paddock, within the Red Bull team which could celebrate, two weeks after its constructors’ title, the third coronation of its leader and undisputed leader, Max Verstappen. But also in the very cozy VIP lounges reserved for the leaders of the Formula One Group, which owns and operates the commercial rights to Formula 1. Indeed, by establishing, during the 2021 season, the principle of sprint races, no doubt hoped- They will one day experience such a scenario, which would see a driver win the title during these events contested on Saturday in a format reduced to 100 kilometers. That’s roughly half an hour of racing depending on the specificities of this or that circuit.
A format which, even today, is seeking real legitimacy on a sporting level. What will Max Verstappen be responsible for offering him on a platter this Saturday? Nothing is less sure. What is certain, however, is that the prospect of seeing the Dutchman win the race on this occasion will necessarily bring a unique spotlight to these sprint races, which only transfixed lovers take care to follow religiously. But that many others, less familiar with F1, will simply discover this weekend. Because until now, we might as well be clear from the outset, no sprint race has left its mark on people’s minds by its progress and its outcome. Likewise, so many people know that Max Verstappen has won 13 Grand Prix victories this year – including a record series of 10 consecutive successes – who is able, without the help of Google, to name the names of the winners of the sprints contested in Azerbaijan, Austria and Belgium?
For your information, know that it is Sergio Perez for the first named, and – surprise! – Max Verstappen for the last two. A Red Bull hat-trick which already offers the beginnings of an answer concerning the interest of this format, initially sold as ultra-spectacular and conducive to twists and turns. But which, ultimately, only turns out to be a reflection of the hierarchy in classic grand prix. Or put another way, apart from the number of laps and the duration, nothing changes between Saturday and Sunday. Hence this question: what are these sprints for, if not to further strengthen Red Bull’s domination? In any case, not to offer a recital of overtaking galore. Born from this desire to bring something new to a discipline in the process of becoming ossified, this concept of sprint had taken precedence, in the minds of the main decision-makers, over the far-fetched idea of a race starting with a grid reversed start, the Red Bulls starting from the last row with the obligation to go up the entire field. But from one artificial gadget to another that is just as artificial, there is only one step, or one turn, that the Formula One Group has perfectly managed to take.
Launched to add spectacle, the sprints have for the moment only a financial interest for F1, determined to make the maximum possible profit (ticketing, TV rights, etc.) since, after being limited to three sprints per season in 2021 and 2022, their figure has doubled this year with six events. And here again, you have to be particularly well informed to be able to name the six circuits concerned, normally handpicked for their playground aspect conducive to overtaking. Thus, after Baku, Spielberg and Spa-Francorchamps, Losail will be the scene of this Saturday, before Austin (United States) on October 21 and Interlagos (Brazil) on November 4 complete the loop. And others could follow in the short or medium term. Without the slightest sporting logic, nor the slightest interest in terms of show.
Moreover, it is amusing to delve into this declaration from a certain Max Verstappen at the end of the 2022 season. The one who could be crowned on Saturday, and thus publicize these sprint races, is nevertheless not one of them. not a big fan. “For me it’s not really a race, because it’s before the main race and you know there are a lot more points available anyway. You get another start, which is exciting, but it’s really only the ones that aren’t in position that move up, because you’re only putting on a set of tires that only lasts one stint and not much is happening -thing. Everyone is very careful because if you are fighting for third place and you have a little contact and you fall to last place, you know your Sunday is going to be difficult (Editor’s note: which is no longer the case in 2023 – sprint classification and Sunday starting grid being uncorrelated – without the party getting any crazier). You probably won’t risk it, so it’s not really a race. I think we should settle for just one of these races.” So if even the future three-time world champion doesn’t buy into this gadget…