via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff during the press conference | COURTESY: FIA/Handout via REUTERS
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff during the press conference | COURTESY: FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Toto Wolff opens up his views on the concept of Reverse-grid Sprint Race. Toto believes Formula 1 is not a “Reality show” and such formats could spoil the DNA of the sport.
Formula 1 revealed during the early stages of this year that it is planning to implement the Reverse Grid format at a few races in 2020.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 6, 2020, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly celebrates winning the Italian Grand Prix in the car with second-placed McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and third-placed Racing Point’s Lance Stroll | Courtesy: Pool via REUTERS/Miguel Medina
Last weekend, the Italian Grand Prix, in the absence of the Mercedes and Red Bull, witnessed a new set of podium finishers. After that race, Ross Brawn confirmed that F1 is reconsidering the Reverse-Grid instead of Qualifying for the future.
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Even if the proposed format is allowed to be used in F1, only a handful of circuits will be able to run this format.
The Reverse-Grid format could be an amazing opportunity for the mid-field teams to try and go for a win. Since these talks began, Mercedes was not particularly impressed with it. The team has opposed it and are still opposing it.
What did Toto Wolff say?
Toto Wolff believes that such changes could spoil the DNA of the sport. “I don’t think that we should mess with any of the formats,” said Wolff.
via Imago
Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 6, 2020, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton after the start the race
| Courtesy: via REUTERS/Matteo Bazzi
“We see racing series that have tried to change formats that have historically been understood by the fans, NASCAR and the chase comes to mind, and I don’t think we should be messing around.
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“But nobody wants a winner that has started from a reverse grid. I don’t think we should be designing freak results where it is almost possible to overtake, just because we believe that the pecking order should be a different one.”
Toto also explains that it is not a show to bring out random results. “This is a meritocracy. This is a sport where the best man and best machine wins, and this is not WWE, where the outcome is completely random,” said Toto.
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“It’s not a show. It’s not a reality show, and It’s not big brother. And I don’t think we should be going there.”
Formula 1 has lacked close racing on the top in recent years. By implying the 2022 regulations, F1 is expecting to bring the cars to an equal level. It will all be up to the drivers and not the cars anymore.
