Sprint in Imola: these are the new rules for the sprint races in 2022

More excitement in F1

In a search for race weekends with more spectacle, Formula 1 has ended up with the Sprint. The old and original race weekend with three free practices, a qualification and a race is appreciated by many fans, but the leadership of the sport wants more action during the weekend. Especially the Friday with two free practice sessions had to be addressed.

In 2021, F1 conducted a test over three race weekends with qualifying already taking place on Friday and the Sprint on Saturday. The result of the Sprint then also determined the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday and in addition there were points to be earned by the top three, namely three for the winner, two for the number two and one point for the number three.

The Sprint is a shortened race. This is a race of 100 kilometers, which, depending on the circuit, takes about 25 to 30 minutes. The Sprint is thus an extra 'racing element' added to the weekend, compared to three training sessions that are normally organized.

Three Sprints again in 2022

F1 itself was very happy with the test and hoped to organize more weekends with a Sprint on Saturday in 2022. However, the top teams, reportedly mainly Mercedes and Red Bull Racing, were lying for this deal. They demanded a higher budget cap to cover the potential extra cost of these races, but the competitors and F1 did not go along with that.

It ensures that in 2022 we will not have six or seven sprint weekends, but will have to make do with three, just like in 2021. As in 2021, one race weekend will be held in Brazil, but the other editions this year will be in Austria and Imola (as opposed to Silverstone and Monza in 2021), with Imola thus getting the start this season.

New rules for the Sprint

It does so under slightly different conditions, as F1 was not happy about everything. There was very little at stake on Saturday for too many drivers. It was mainly making sure not to lose too many positions and not to have a crash. A crash causes huge costs and means that on Sunday (when the points are distributed) you have to start from the back.

To stimulate drivers a little bit more on Saturday, this year more points will be handed out during a Sprint. For the entire top eight there are now points to be earned, whereby the number one gets eight points, the number two gets seven points, etc. This means that besides a higher starting position on Sunday, drivers can also earn more points.

The pole position

In addition to the points, however, one important component has been changed which was a stumbling block for many fans and drivers: the pole position. In 2021, that title went to the driver who managed to win the Sprint, where many were of the opinion that that title belonged to the person who was the fastest on Friday during qualifying. That rule has been reversed in 2022, so the fastest man over one lap will simply get the title of pole position behind his name again.

As in 2021, the final Sprint result is still the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday. So a crash on Saturday can be painful after qualifying so well on Friday. You have one piece of luck: on Sunday there is still a chance to make up for that crash with a nice catch-up race.