'F1 team bosses agree to new sprint format'

Around the time of the Australian Grand Prix, it was announced that Formula 1 was working out plans to overhaul this season's sprint races. Instead of the sprint race determining the Grand Prix starting grid, the sprint race is to become a stand-alone element of the race weekend, and the starting grid for both races will be determined by a traditional qualifying session. The practice session on the Saturday of the race weekend would then be replaced by qualifying for the sprint race.

The plans would have been discussed with team bosses on day of the Australian Grand Prix. Eight of the 10 team bosses would have to agree to the ideas, as would the FIA and Formula One management. According to the Daily Mail, this has been achieved, meaning the plans will now be submitted to the F1 Commission. This commission will meet on 25 April, three days before the race weekend begins in Azerbaijan. Should the commission also approve the plans, the new format will come into use for the first time in Baku.

Verstappen against, Hamilton and Russell expectantly in favour

Opinions in the Formula 1 paddock on these plans are divided. Max Verstappen is the most outspoken opponent: the reigning world champion argued that, in his opinion, it affects the DNA of the sport and claimed that ideas such as these make him have little desire to continue beyond his current contract. Strikingly, Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko previously claimed, on the contrary, that Red Bull is partly driving these ideas by demanding that a second qualifying session must take place on the weekend of a sprint race last year. Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell did not explicitly comment on these new plans, but argued that the sport should be open to change.