F1 sprint races could face expulsion from 2022 calendar amidst budget row with teams!

F1 sprint races could face expulsion from 2022 calendar amidst budget row with teams!

Formula 1 sprint race

Sprint races was one of the interesting additions made to Formula 1 in 2022 with 3 out of the 22 GPs in 2021 hosting the shortened version of the race. The new Formula 1 format, first introduced at last year’s British Grand Prix, drove mixed reactions from fans and teams.F1 also also put forward an increase in points distributed to the drivers – which was last season set at three for the winner, two points for second place and one for third. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and motorsport boss Ross Brawn wanted to double the number sprints  from 3 in 2021 to 6 in upcoming 2022 season.

F1 sprint races could be scrapped as per reports from INDIPENDENT from the calendar this year amid a row over budget cap as teams, reportedly front runners Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, forcing the governing body FIA to increase the budget cap set at $140mil for this year to accommodate addition cost for the sprints. Formula 1 and FIA are unwilling to lodge the financial demands of the rebel teams.

F1 is proposed an alternative to run sprint races in Saturday instead of the usual qualifier which determine the grid for Sunday’s main event – at just three of the 23 Grands Prix which the teams are reluctant to agree to this proposal.

The possibility of no more sprint races taking place rises as F1 need  eight of the grid’s 10 teams to vote in favor of the sport’s latest proposal which is highly unlikely if the top teams decided to not to back down from their demand . Formula 1 Commission on February 14, a little more than four weeks before the start of the new season in Bahrain on March 20, will discuss on the matter at hand according to the reports.  

F1 Sprint race challenges “shouldn’t solve just by getting the cheque book out,” McLaren Boss Zak Brown

Zak Brown
Zak Brown

McLaren Boss Zak Brown has come out against Formula 1 team’s asking to increase the Budget cap to accommodate any crashes that might happen during sprint races . Zak Brown alleges that one team wanted a $5mil increase which he finds to be backed by no rational facts. He said its just nonsense that they want this huge raise for something that might happen. Zak Brown added that crashes are part of the sport and we shouldn’t be solving it with flashing money out.

“One team in particular wanted a $5m (£3.7m) budget cap increase which was just ridiculous with no rational facts behind it,” Zak Brown said.

“And when those facts are challenged, the response is, ‘well you have to anticipate and have the extra money just in case something happens’. You end up sitting there and realising it is just nonsense,” Zak Brown Explained.

“We all have the same challenge. If you do happen to have more crashes, well that is part of sport, like a football player getting injured. We shouldn’t solve it just by getting the cheque book out,” Zak Brown added.

Also read: Max Verstappen: “No.1 is the best number out there”