“Alonso was fun to watch” – Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has a mixed opinion on the first-ever sprint qualifying race held at Silverstone yesterday.
The sprint qualifying made its Formula 1 debut yesterday, a shortened race of 17 laps covering 100 kilometers. The start was exciting, with Alonso showing his race craft and moving up the field.
On the flip side, a collision between George Russell and Sergio Perez led to the latter damaging his front wing, and will start the race from the back of the grid today. Russell, meanwhile, got a three-place grid drop for his role in the collision.
There was nothing major to report from the 30 mins of action, with Max Verstappen taking the lead from Lewis Hamilton at the start of the race and maintaining it comfortably, winning the pole position.
Hamilton’s boss Toto Wolff was asked for his opinion about the sprint qualifying concept, and while he thinks it was exciting in bits and parts, he isn’t very keen to see it being held at every Grand Prix from next season onwards.
“I think it’s entertaining for the crowds at the track. A start is always interesting and good content and obviously, Alonso was fun to watch, so I think overall it is a good add-on.
“I don’t see it for every race, I think there is too much randomness. If you see Checo spinning out and then retiring, last is not the place that Sergio Perez should be.
“It could really work against you if you’re one of the front runners, but I think if the next few ones go like this one, I think it has a place in the calendar in a limited form.
“I’m not a fan of live experimenting. But this one is not hugely controversial. I am totally against reverse grids. It’s just fake.”
