Martin Brundle calls for Sprint format overhaul amid US Grand Prix controversy

On Saturday, the Sprint event proved less than thrilling as Max Verstappen dominated the race, leading from start to finish over 19 laps. This lacklustre affair left spectators speculating about what lay ahead for the main event on Sunday.

A pivotal factor contributing to the underwhelming Saturday was the teams' limited preparation time. With just one practice session available before the car specifications and setups were locked in by parc fermé regulations, teams faced significant challenges. This was particularly evident on unfamiliar circuits like Qatar's Losail or bumpy tracks such as Austin's Circuit of the Americas.

Brundle shared his insights in his Sky Sports F1 column, stating, "There's no doubt that the Sprint format events put the teams under a lot of pressure, and overall, we don't get particularly positive feedback from them."

The limited practice opportunity and the stringent parc fermé rules left teams underprepared for the complexity of modern Formula 1 cars. Brundle raised a fundamental question: Is it worth introducing the jeopardy and unpredictability of some teams missing their ultimate pace, or does it waste the skills and resources of teams and drivers in a manner not in line with the essence of Formula 1?

Further complicating the matter, the weekend witnessed four cars starting from the pit lane, as teams opted to break out of parc fermé regulations to make competitive setup changes. Some drivers were stuck with challenging car setups for the entire weekend after Friday's two qualifying sessions, affecting the overall competitiveness of the races.

Brundle asserted, "This is not ideal or necessary, and while I don't like us to keep messing with the format, we must make some changes for next season and beyond."

The United States Grand Prix weekend's controversies did not end with the uneventful Sprint event. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc faced disqualification post-race due to excessive plank wear. This issue directly resulted from the lack of practice running time.

Brundle clarified, "After the race, four cars were checked, including Verstappen's Red Bull and Norris' McLaren. Both Hamilton's Mercedes and Leclerc's Ferrari were found to have excessive wear, leading to disqualification, regardless of the minor nature of the infraction. There can be no gray area on this."

A significant concern arose when 50% of the tested cars failed these checks. Brundle posed a critical question: Shouldn't all finishers have been subjected to similar scrutiny? The answer to this question, he believes, is undoubtedly yes.

The Formula 1 season marches on, with the next stop being the Mexican Grand Prix scheduled for the weekend of October 27-29 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Known for its smooth tarmac, the circuit historically results in low tire degradation. This characteristic places a premium on track position and tire selection, given the limited overtaking opportunities across the 4.304km lap.

 

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