Sprint Format Earns Eddie Jordan’s Hatred, as F1 Takes Inspiration From Tennis

In 2024, Formula 1 proposed the return of sprint races and qualifying shifting to Fridays after a practice session. Saturdays feature 100-kilometer sprint races, setting the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. This change aims to enhance fan excitement and the overall race weekend experience, introducing a new dynamic to F1.

In a recent episode of the “Formula for Success” podcast, the discussion centered around Australian F1 controversies and the divisive sprint race format. A spirited debate unfolded between David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan, with Jordan expressing disapproval for the sprint races, deeming them “shambolic.” He offered his solution to address the perceived issues with the format.

Eddie Jordan’s dissatisfaction: F1 sprint racing draws from tennis

In a podcast episode, “Formula for Success,” David Coulthard presented a question regarding the 2024 sprint race format. Speaking on behalf of Adam and Deven, David asked, “What if sprint races are for teams’ F drivers only one per team? This would create a sprint championship and showcase for future stars; points also contribute to the constructors to keep them interested.”

In response, Eddie Jordan said, “I think sprint racing is a failure. It’s shambolic. It shouldn’t be in the weekend for the Grand Prix; it’s distracting; it’s taking it away from really what we’re here to do, to see who wins the Grand Prix.”

Eddie suggested an alternative, adding, “Rather than the loser, I would propose having four Grand Prix, which are four of the races that are key in our calendar. You might have to leave Monaco out because what you don’t need is Monaco; it’s kind of a really tricky place for young drivers to go to.”

His analogy parallels tennis, stating, “For me, when you have tennis and you have grand slam,” referring to the four major annual tournaments in the sport. He proposed that the sprint race format, with specific restrictions, should mirror this, where drivers who have completed over 10 Grand Prix would be eligible to participate. He emphasizes the importance of giving opportunities to young or less experienced drivers. This approach maintains integrity in the sport by nurturing young talent.

Eddie Jordan further proposed integrating sprint races into selected Formula 1 events instead of holding them separately. He suggests incorporating sprints into existing Grand Prix weekends for chosen races, particularly at circuits with a rich history of hosting F1 events, as a tribute to their significance.

Additionally, Jordan acknowledges that his idea may need further refinement and admits it’s not a complete solution, but it reflects his perspective on integrating sprint races into the Formula 1 calendar. Let’s delve into the latest from the FIA regarding the 2024 sprint race format and its details.

F1 sprint race regulatory reforms for the 2024 season

In 2024, plans for six sprint races, including the Chinese Grand Prix, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar, were proposed, pending approval from the World Motor Sport Council. Detailed discussions by F1 commissions, as revealed by the FIA, outlined a schedule where free practice and sprint qualifying took place on Friday.

As a result, Saturdays featured the sprint race, preceding Grand Prix qualifying, with the traditional full-length Grand Prix race held on Sundays.

The commissions had agreed on this, and the FIA had stated that regulatory changes would be presented to the WMSC on February 28, two days before the Bahrain Grand Prix season opener. These changes had followed complaints from the previous season about parc fermé conditions, where cars had been effectively locked into their setups after just one practice session on Friday.