F1 boss Stefano Domenicali made a statement earlier this week, where he talked about the idea of having practice sessions removed from F1. While they help the engineers gather data, they aren’t really considered to be a viewing spectacle, the Italian claimed. Mercedes’ George Russell, spoke to the media about his thoughts on practice sessions and their potential removal ahead of the 2023 Australian GP.
Russell feels that F1 drivers should get time to get their setups right, by taking part in practice sessions ahead of the main race. However, they aren’t the ones who need practice the most according to Russell. The Mercedes driver feels that drivers in the junior categories should be given more time to practice.
In a traditional Grand Prix weekend, F1 drivers are given three practice sessions, with each one lasting for one hour. Contrary to that, F2 and F3 drivers get just one session, which isn’t fair, insists Russell. The Briton wants the structure of the race weekend to change, but he wants it done in favor of the junior drivers.
George Russell calls for more practice times for junior stars
F1 stars are mostly accustomed to most of the tracks they race in, unless they’re a rookie or the sport visits a new venue. F2 and F3 drivers on the other hand, find themselves in unfamiliar territory more often than not.
For instance, F2 and F3 will visit Albert Park as support races for this Australian GP weekend, and almost none of the drivers have any idea how driving in the streets of Melbourne feels like, away from the simulator. This is why Russell feels that these young stars should be the ones getting more time to practice.
When asked about Domenicali’s comments and whether F1 drivers need three practice sessions, the 25-year-old said no.
“No. I don’t think it’s fair that F1 has three times the amount of practice you have in F2 and F3,” he said. “They should be the ones getting more practice.”
Why does Domenicali want to cancel practice sessions?
F1 is a sport that has seen a sharp increase in viewership over the last few years. It is rapidly growing, and to get even more eyeballs, F1 is trying to make the sport as attractive to viewers as possible. They introduced sprint weekends to replace the traditional format, and so far, it has been met with mixed reviews.
Domenicali, the CEO of F1, in an interview with Sport TV said that he is open to cancelling the three practice sessions that take place before qualifying, because of public interest.
“I am a supporter of the cancellation of free practice sessions which are of great use to the engineers, but that the public doesn’t like,” the 57-year-old said.
Fans, however, aren’t very fond of the idea of F1 bringing about such a radical change, that will spoil the format that they have gotten used to over the years.
