F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Formula 1 reveals new Sprint Shootout format and rules

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has confirmed the introduction from next weekend in Azerbaijan of a set of revised Sprint weekend regulations, which include a new Sprint Shootout qualifying session.

The changes were tabled earlier this month by F1's team bosses and voted upon unanimously on Tuesday by the F1 Commission before they were officially ratified by the WMSC.

As expected, Friday's FP1 will be followed by a qualifying session that will determine the grid for Sunday's race. On Saturday, FP2 has been replaced by a new qualifying format – called Sprint Shootout – that will set the starting order for the afternoon's standalone Sprint event.

The Sprint Shootout session will follow the usual Q1-Q2-Q3 format, but the duration of each segment has been reduced, with SQ1 lasting 12 minutes, SQ2 cut to 10 minutes and QQ3 lasting just 8 minutes, with the latter's duration allowing drivers to achieve just a single lap.

Furthermore, a mandatory tyre schedule adopted for the session will see drivers running on mediums in Q1 and Q2, and on softs in Q3.

Read also: Williams expecting ‘a little bit of mayhem’ at Baku Sprint

It has been decided that any grid penalties incurred by a driver in practice or in qualifying will apply in Sunday's race, while a penalty incurred in Sprint Qualifying will apply to the Sprint event.

PU penalties will only apply for the Grand Prix.

Also, the points allocation for the sprint remains unchanged, with the top eight scoring on the basis of 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Baku next weekend will kick off the new format, with the Austria, Belgium, Qatar, the USA and Brazil hosting additional Sprint events.

A joint statement from the FIA and F1 said: "Following this successful vote and subsequent approval by the World Motor Sport Council by e-vote, all stakeholders believe that this will boost the spectacle of Sprint weekends and enhance track action for fans around the world.

"Thanks to the close working relationship between the FIA, FOM as well as the sport's ten Formula 1 teams, moving the changes from concept to regulation has been accomplished swiftly and positively."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.