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Martin Brundle predicts F1 sprint change to produce ‘thrilling’ Saturdays in 2024
Martin Brundle predicts F1 sprint change to produce ‘thrilling’ Saturdays in 2024
Martin Brundle believes that Formula 1 can create a series of “thrilling” Saturdays in 2024 by making tweaks to the sprint races. Introduced during the 2021 F1 season, the condensed races were designed to provide a short, fast-paced spectacle to enhance the standard Sunday racing. Having been trialled at three events that year and in 2022, the number of sprints on the calendar was doubled ahead of this season, with the format also adapted to no longer set the grid for Sunday’s race and instead operate as a standalone event for which points were awarded. The six sprints this season have consisted of sprint qualifying on Saturday morning before the sprint race later in the day, with grand prix qualifying held on a Friday. Fans, however, have questioned the revamp, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that the current system is “confusing”. F1 bosses are contemplating restructuring the weekend schedule for next year, perhaps by moving race qualifying until Saturday afternoon and holding the sprint race that morning. And Sky Sports pundit Brundle believes that could create a spectacular day of action for spectators to enjoy. “The sprint format will be tweaked for next year and qualifying for the main race will revert to Saturday afternoon, I suspect,” former F1 driver Brundle explained in his Sky Sports column. “Saturday will become a thrilling day should they schedule the sprint race in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon, although teams will be nervous of having sufficient time to repair any damage from the morning event. “Friday will then be one practice session in the morning, which I believe should revert to 90 minutes, and the Sprint Shootout qualification in the afternoon. Another very decent day for the fans trackside and watching on TV or online. “That chronology flows more logically, and tyre allocations should be standardised for every weekend - we already talk more than enough about tyres.” The final sprint race of the season was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman subsequently extending his unassailable advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings with race victory. Verstappen has now won seven of the 12 sprint races since the format’s introduction at the 2021 British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver has admitted, though, that he is not entirely enamoured with the extra racing, but Brundle believes that it is here to stay and significantly better than the traditional three free practice schedule. “I see a lot of social media traffic, as well as talking with fans, friends, and media, where many say they don’t like sprint format at all,” Brundle outlined. “Despite being a pure racer and having won many of them, Verstappen says the same. “That’s all valid opinion, but the TV audience numbers show a lot more eyeballs watching these ‘appointments to view’ live sport. And that’s fact. “As I said in our shows, the worst Sprint will always be better than the best FP2, because in free practices nothing is decided, and the teams need to keep the cars well apart on track and use as little tyre and power unit life as possible. The sprints simply must be more entertaining trackside too for those splashing their hard-earned cash. “The whole sprint format needs sharpening up schedule wise, and then it can likely work at a few more circuits. Let’s see what the F1 Commission come up with after their meeting in Abu Dhabi.” The Formula 1 season will conclude with back-to-back race weekends in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi on 18 and 26 November. Read More Max Verstappen thwarts Lando Norris’s bid for first F1 win in Brazil sprint Lewis Hamilton makes dispiriting Red Bull prediction ‘for next couple of years’ Toto Wolff blasts ‘horrible’ and ‘unacceptable’ Mercedes form after Lewis Hamilton struggles Machine Gun Kelly defends bizarre clash with F1 presenter at Brazilian Grand Prix Martin Brundle responds to bizarre Machine Gun Kelly dispute Machine Gun Kelly storms off after bizarre ‘air guitar’ exchange with Martin Brundle
2023-11-07 19:42
Patrick Mahomes is more focused on improving and winning more Super Bowls than his legacy
Patrick Mahomes is more focused on improving and winning more Super Bowls than his legacy
Patrick Mahomes already is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and AP NFL MVP before turning 28, compiling an impressive Hall of Fame-worthy resume in only six seasons
2023-07-13 02:32
'Dad. They shot me. Help': Surviving the Kfar Aza kibbutz massacre
'Dad. They shot me. Help': Surviving the Kfar Aza kibbutz massacre
Neta had not spoken to her father for years, but she knew he was the only person who could save her.
2023-10-13 14:49
'Not a fan of Second Chance Tournament': 'Jeopardy!' Season 40's 'bland' new format leaves Internet divided
'Not a fan of Second Chance Tournament': 'Jeopardy!' Season 40's 'bland' new format leaves Internet divided
This comes after showrunner Michael Davies announced that 'Jeopardy!' Season 40 will use recycled clues written before the WGA strike
2023-10-02 10:51
Premier League clubs ‘furious’ over delays to Man City and Everton financial cases
Premier League clubs ‘furious’ over delays to Man City and Everton financial cases
The Premier League has been repeatedly advised to establish an independent unit in order to speed up complex financial cases such as those involving Manchester City and Everton, as the planet’s most popular competition could be mired in legal uncertainty for years to come. The Independent has been told a core of clubs have been pressing the argument, but that has so far gone unheeded. The sight of chief executive Richard Masters on Sunday presenting the trophy to City - as the club also became the first champions in that situation to also be facing charges that, if proven, could yet see them expelled from the competition - has again raised questions about the Premier League serving as organiser, regulator, investigator and prosecutor. A number of clubs are understood to be increasingly “furious”, particularly with reports of recent delays to the process. It also leaves open the possibility that all of the Premier League’s key battles - the title, Champions League and relegation - could be settled for this season amid regulatory uncertainty about the future. While City face 115 charges related to Financial Fair Play rules and Everton have been referred to an independent commission for an alleged breach of Profit and Sustainability rules, Masters has previously refused to confirm whether it is investigating Newcastle’s ownership after US court documents from majority owners Public Investment Fund appeared to contradict the Premier League’s “legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control” the club. Both City and Everton have strenuously denied any wrongdoing. The key for many others, however, is that it leaves a cloud over everything that happens. A strident view within legal circles is that the nature of cases like those involving City and Everton is so financially complex that it goes beyond general sporting disciplinary issues, and requires specific financial experts involved from the outset rather than just heavyweight legal figures. This is why Uefa and the EFL have two independent bodies, with the continental federation setting up the Investigatory and Adjudicatory Chamber and the English body mirroring that with Club Financial Review Panel and Club Financial Review Unit. Such units both speed up processes but also take discretion away from the boards, ensuring - in the words of the EFL’s own announcement - “consistency and independence”. A number of Premier League club employees have been pointing to this, as the perception grows that City’s strategy is again one of obstruction, just as Uefa figures have spoken about. Several sources describe it as a “mess”, with the competition facing pressure from both sides, but one that was “foreseeable and avoidable”. Some of Everton’s Premier League rivals have meanwhile requested their case be fast-tracked, so that everything can be settled before the end of the season. Should the Goodison Park club go down, the EFL would not be able to pursue the case, although it is understood the commission would continue. An illustration of how this could cause other complications, however, is that if the case did then conclude with Everton being issued with a points deduction, that would not apply in the EFL. It would have to wait until a period when the club returned to the Premier League. As it stands, commissions are appointed to deal with all disciplinary issues in the elite competition. Whereas the panel to form these commissions used to be recommended by the league and approved by the clubs, with the Premier League itself then selecting the individual from that panel for the relevant issue, this was changed in early 2020. A fully independent chair appoints legal and financial experts onto the Judicial Panel, and it will be then up to him to decide who should go on the Commission. It is Murray Rosen KC’s appointment as chair that City are reported to have objected to, due to the fact he is an Arsenal fan. The argument is this process has evolved to become more independent, and a stance within the Premier League has been that the clubs prefer the board to handle various issues. There is increasing debate about that, though, as figures at clubs have become frustrated with proceedings. One counter-argument is that the commissions have always been independent, but what is so important about independent units is that they do investigations and prosecutions. Some Premier League executives have also pointed to how the case of Reading in the EFL was dealt with in a few weeks, whereby the club was issued a second six-point penalty after failing to satisfy a business plan agreed after a historical breach of Profit and Sustainability limits. “You can’t have the same people charging clubs and helping them through processes,” one source said. “It’s obvious.” Beyond that, several sources have spoken of how the Premier League’s legal workload has significantly increased with the case. Some figures in that area have spoken of how it reflects the transformed role of the competition. Whereas it used to almost be a partners’ group whose main business was actually selling media rights, with many historically having boasted of their streamlined team, it has grown into one that has to deal with the most complex legal and financial cases. “It needs specialists and hard-nosed litigators who will scare the hell out of clubs to keep them in line,” was one view. Read More Financial charges cast cloud over Man City's dominance in English soccer Man City’s quest for legitimacy is a battle they may never win Five titles in six years: Are Manchester City destroying the Premier League? Newcastle vs Leicester LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Brighton’s top talents may move on before European challenge – Roberto De Zerbi Bad decisions and poor signings – where has it gone wrong for Leeds?
2023-05-23 04:45
Here are the key theories on what caused Ukraine's catastrophic dam collapse
Here are the key theories on what caused Ukraine's catastrophic dam collapse
The collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine is one of the biggest industrial disasters in Europe for decades. The catastrophe has destroyed entire villages, flooded farmland, deprived tens of thousands of people of power and clean water and caused massive ecological damage.
2023-06-09 00:12
Alcaraz, Djokovic to clash in blockbuster Wimbledon final
Alcaraz, Djokovic to clash in blockbuster Wimbledon final
World number one Carlos Alcaraz set up a blockbuster Wimbledon final against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic after sweeping aside...
2023-07-15 01:54
Wyze security camera owners report seeing strangers' camera feeds
Wyze security camera owners report seeing strangers' camera feeds
Wyze security camera users stumbled upon a possible privacy breach, as customers reported seeing the
2023-09-10 00:20
Nadal to reveal French Open decision, amid injury concerns
Nadal to reveal French Open decision, amid injury concerns
Rafael Nadal will announce if he will compete in the French Open on Thursday, amid a long-term injury struggle and some Spanish...
2023-05-18 01:51
MLB rumors: Cashman in the way, Mariners minds made up, sellers cash in, more
MLB rumors: Cashman in the way, Mariners minds made up, sellers cash in, more
MLB Rumors: Trade deadline sellers will cash in big timeThe Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline is right around the corner, which means teams are essentially deciding between three potential options: buy, sell, or stand pat.Teams who have underperformed are looking to get off bad money and reset for nex...
2023-07-31 05:28
McCarthy Launches Biden Impeachment Probe, Alleging Corruption
McCarthy Launches Biden Impeachment Probe, Alleging Corruption
Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched an impeachment probe into President Joe Biden for what the Republican leader called a
2023-09-13 01:11
Hithium and FlexGen Sign Cooperation Agreement
Hithium and FlexGen Sign Cooperation Agreement
DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2023--
2023-11-21 22:00