Brawn: F1 won't 'force through' sprint races if unsuccessful

Ross Brawn says that F1 won't hesitate to can its Sprint Qualifying format if this year's trials fail to seduce the sport's fans.

The innovative concept tabled earlier this year by F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and created to boost fan and viewer interest will be put to the test for the very first time at this week's British Grand Prix.

While positive feedback will likely encourage F1 to add Sprint Qualifying to a half a dozen races in 2022, Brawn insists that if audiences don't give the idea a resounding thumbs up, the format will be dropped altogether and F1 will move on.

"We will never force this through if it is clearly not a success," said Brawn, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"There's no incentive in doing it if the audience don't engage, if we don't see a strong engagement from the fans, and we don't see the benefits.

"I think one of the great things about what's happening is that it is three races, it's not the season. In the past, F1 has always struggled with the fact that when it's made an adjustment, it's made it theoretically for the season.

"We all remember the [elimination] qualifying fiasco a few years ago, which luckily sort of got corrected partway through the season. I think that was one that everybody forecast was going to be a struggle, and it turned out to be.

"So this is three events where we're going to trial this format. And if it's not a success, if we don't get the response we hope, then we'll put our hands up and then we'll stay where we are and we'll look at other initiatives."

• Read also: Brawn convinced drivers 'will go for it' in sprint race

However, if fans demand the return of sprint races in the future, Brawn contends that F1 will carefully select the venues where the format will appear. And while commercial considerations will come into play, F1's director of motorsport insists the sport won't sell out to the highest bidding promoters.

"So it will be up to Stefano and myself, and one or two others, to make a recommendation of who should be the primary candidates, and the teams will have a say in that as well. But it will be a blend", explained Brawn.

"I hope we can get the commercial benefit from all the venues that we go to, because then that will be a stronger argument for the teams to want to do it.

"So I don't think we will sell out on this, because it has to be a success. If we go to circuits where it doesn't work and it doesn't offer any overall benefit, then we know it will have a short life.

"I think we need to make sure we go to circuits where we can demonstrate the value of this and the excitement and success of it, and then we'll go from there."

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