“Hopefully in the next few days” – Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto seems to suggest the sprint qualifying idea will take off this season, after a positive meeting during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Sprint qualifying, a brand new idea to spice things up in Formula 1, looks set to get the green light. This after Mattia Binotto revealed a positive meeting took place between FIA and the F1 team bosses during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
“We are obviously happy to support the concept. There are still a few details that need to be addressed, which we are discussing and working on, but I don’t think they will be stoppers.
“So it’s only a matter of finalizing the proposal in all aspects. But we are really working on those and hopefully, in the next few days it can be announced.”
Details are yet to be confirmed, but the likely venues this season are Monza, Interlagos, and Silverstone. Apart from the final race on Sunday, 3-2-1 points will be awarded to the top finishers in the sprint qualifying on Saturday. The main points of contention currently are the parc ferme regulations and the choice of tyres.
Williams team principal Simon Roberts also confirmed they “support the idea.” For the plan to go ahead, a vote will take place in a meeting of the F1 commission. Earlier, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali had expressed confidence in the plan getting the requisite approval.
“We’ve certainly been working closely – and I think other teams have as well – with Formula 1,” he added. “I think most of the technical stuff is pretty much there. And it was a positive meeting. We just wait and see what happens next.”
