Russell wants set-up rules tweak for sprint weekends

Mercedes driver George Russell says that Formula 1 rules should be adjusted to allow teams to make set-up changes to their cars during sprint race weekends.

Currently cars go into parc ferme conditions on Friday afternoon after first practice, meaning that teams can only make limited adjustments to set-ups for the rest of the weekend.

As a result, cars have to keep the same settings for qualifying for both the Grand Prix and the Sprint Showdown, and then also for the Sprint race and the main event on Sunday afternoon.

On non-sprint weekends, the lockdown kicks in after qualifying and affects only the race. Breaking parc ferme rules mean that that the car would have to start from pit lane at the very back of the field.

Russell found himself faced with this choice in the last Grand Prix in Belgium before the summer break when the team opted to put him on a high downforce strategy for FP1 while Lewis Hamilton took a low downforce setting.

Russell struggled for the rest of the weekend where he finished in sixth place, while Hamilton went on to battle for a place on the podium before finally ending up in P4.

• Read also: Russell and Ricciardo work up a frenzy in Ibiza

Russell admitted that it was frustrating to know that a decision made in Friday's first practice had essentially impaired his entire weekend and there was nothing he could do without incurring a pit lane start.

"It can be really challenging," Russell explained. "I still don't love the fact that you're not allowed to change the set-up of the car from after FP1."

Russell acknowledged that the parc ferme rules created "an unknown for the sport" which could add to the excitement, but said it was unfair to the drivers.

"It's like giving a tennis player his racquet an hour before the final at Wimbledon, and just saying this is what you've got, suck it up and get on with it and with no prior practice or training.

"That's not really how other sports operate," he pointed out. "I understand why we do it, but it would be nice to make some changes at a certain point of the weekend."

Russell is currently enjoying a few weeks off, heading to Ibiza with his partner thanks to F1's summer break regulations requiring all team personnel involved in race operations to take a two week hiatus to rest and recharge.

"I think the summer break is a really great thing for everybody in the sport," Russell said. "Everybody recognises the impact that a two-week break has. It totally resets and rejuvenates.

"Glad to see that we as a sport have it," he added. "We're all so motivated and determined, I think everybody in their own right feels like a bit of a warrior and just wants to power through.

"I think there are talks of it for the winter as well," he noted. "That's obviously more for the engineers and designers back at the factory.

"It's a brutal sport, incredibly intense. I think that would probably be a good addition."

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