Breaking news
Formula 1
McLaren outlines opposition to Japan-like F1 weekend format
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl thinks it would not be right for Formula 1 to hold qualifying and the race on the same day in the future, despite the format proving popular in Japan.
Jonathan Noble
Published: Oct 19, 2019, 8:44 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The impact of Super typhoon Hagibis forced the cancellation of Saturday track action at Suzuka last weekend, meaning qualifying and the grand prix took place on Sunday.
While drivers and fans liked the format, teams were less in favour – both because of the increased headaches that come from car problems, plus the lack of weekend talking points.
Speaking about his view on the same-day format, Seidl said: “I wouldn’t be in favour of that, because I think it is good to have qualifying on Saturday. [Then you have] all the reporting and discussions about it internally and in the outside world.
“I am more in favour to look if you could compress the race weekend a bit more, which is a discussion we are having anyway. I don’t think it is the right thing to put everything just on the one day with the highlights.
“I think the biggest issue is the time limit you have if you have a big problem and need to change components.”
Renault was one of those teams that did face a headache in needing to change components after qualifying, thanks to the issues its drivers suffered.
But its F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul reckoned that it was worth considering the idea of the same-day format.
“I quite liked it,” he told Motorsport.com. “Why I am saying that is because in the end it was not so bad and was all positive.
“But, having said that, we saw with the struggles we had in qualifying and what it meant between qualifying and the race, specifically our team has been stress tested to what it means.
“I can tell you that when you go out immediately for qualifying and you have an issue, your qualifying session is ruined plus with the parc ferme rules there is little you can do.
“With the problem we had, we were allowed by the FIA to fix them but the time was limited and the race crew were amazing. We showed that it is creating some pressure, it is creating a bit of chaos, so frankly it’s interesting.”
But although some think a two-day weekend would work, F1 managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn said last week the sport has no plans to move away from the current three days of action.
“It's true that a day like Sunday in Suzuka offers a great show in just a few hours but it would confine the feeder series races to the previous days,” he said in his post-race review.
“After careful analysis we have concluded that the best solution is to keep the event over three days, revising the Friday format but leaving the rest untouched, with qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 set to abandon reverse grid idea for 2020
Next article Verstappen: Ricciardo Red Bull dynamic was "ideal situation"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
29 min
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
39 min
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
53 min
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe