“That’s the only way to keep the tension high” – Former boss Bernie Ecclestone has suggested a hybrid format to make races more interesting in Formula 1.
Mercedes have won all the Constructors Championships since 2014, and look set to win this season too. This, in spite of Red Bull throwing a challenge to the might of Mercedes. To break the monopoly of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, and make races more competitive, former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has a unique ‘hybrid’ idea. He shared it with Auto Motor und Sport.
“People only watch the main race if there is something different on offer to the sprint. Why should Sunday’s race be any different to Saturday’s when the result of the sprint is the grid for the main race?”
“You have to award points for the sprint race, then flip the grid for the main race accordingly. If the winner of the sprint race gets 15 points, he has to go back 15 grid positions on Sunday. That’s the only way to keep the tension high.
“My system makes both races exciting. Because on Saturday, one or the other asks himself the question ‘should I win the sprint race but lose grid positions, or is it better to finish sixth in the sprint race and then start fourth in the main race? In addition, that would perhaps bring more points. So there would also be a lot of tactics.
“It would put people on the front rows of the grid on Sunday who would otherwise never make it there. Their sponsors would get a lot more attention. It would be better entertainment where everyone gets something out of it.”
