The first Sprint race of 2024 is on the horizon as F1 returns to China - but there are some big changes to the weekend format.
In the 2024 Sprint races, Free Practice 1 is held as normal on Friday, but then the Sprint Shootout qualifying session takes place.
Parc ferme then kicks in for the Sprint which takes place on Saturday morning, before parc ferme is then reopened ahead of qualifying on Saturday afternoon with the main race on Sunday as normal.
Sounds interesting. I’m glad they’re experimenting with the format. I wonder if this will result in more creative/unique setups now that the teams don’t have to make a single compromised setup for the sprint and GP.
I’d be curious to know why they haven’t tried a “normal” parc ferme where it’s open all throughout the sprint and only closes with the full qualifying
@BowtiesAreCool @bhmnscmm it would be interesting to see what teams would do without parc ferme between sprint shootout and sprint race.
They don’t get any extra engines do they? yet they have 6 sprints to complete.
I am looking forward to this!