Formula 1 is offering a compromise arrangement to teams for its sprint event format in 2022 in an attempt to break the stalemate over the budget cap.
F1 intended to run six additional sprint qualifying races in 2022, commencing with the season-opening round in Bahrain, after holding its first three last year.
Last year’s rules included a sprint event format, but it has not yet been legally incorporated into the 2022 rules. In order to stage any sprint events this year, F1 will require the cooperation of teams to change the rules.
Three teams have pushed for an increase in the budget cap to cover a potential increase in the budget cap due to damage caused during the extra races, putting the organization’s chances of staging six sprints in jeopardy. Last month, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown argued that those pressing for a price hike were “essentially holding the sport hostage.”
For the 2022 season, all ten teams will have to prepare vehicles according to a completely new set of technical regulations. As a compromise, F1 is willing to cut the number of sprint events this year from the initially intended six to only three.
This year’s sprint events were supposed to be held in Bahrain, Imola, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Red Bull Ring, Zandvoort, and Interlagos.
As a result of concerns raised following its debut last year, the series is also considering alterations to its format. In particular, more points should be awarded to the pole position winner and pole should be awarded to the driver who sets the quickest time in normal qualifying.
