Sunday morning in Melbourne, the team bosses and Stefano Domenicali, the boss of F1 who has been campaigning in recent days for the abolition of free practice, discussed how to approach the next Grand Prix, in a month, in Azerbaijan. Pending the official vote and the agreement of the FIA in April, it seems that a new format is taking shape which will be tested in Baku.
On Saturday, the traditional morning free practice hour would turn into qualifying, on a format similar to the usual but reduced – 12′ for Q1, 9 for Q2 and 8′ for Q3, which would limit drivers’ attempts qualified by a single flying lap given the length of the Baku track -, serving to establish the starting grid for this sprint race, which will be held in the afternoon.
Friday afternoon would remain dedicated to the official qualification which would draw the Grand Prix grid. For the moment, it is the clification of the sprint race which is used to establish this Sunday starting grid.