Test session or thrill fest? F1 steps into the unknown on 'sprint day'

Another potential crossover is when a driver damages his only example of a new front wing in the sprint and has to go back to an earlier specification for Sunday. He could be obliged to start from the pitlane due to a change of spec.

There’s a little more leeway built into sprint weekends to allow the use of previously-raced parts without penalty, but that’s at the discretion of the FIA. If the older wing is lighter, for example, you would still have to do the pitlane start.

In addition an accident in the sprint that requires the introduction of a new replacement gearbox or power unit could trigger a grid penalty for the main race, although that will only be an issue later in the year.

All of the above are reasons to give drivers food for thought about taking too many risks or trying a last lap lunge, without even thinking about the cost cap consequences of significant damage.

Will drivers park the car when they’re out the points?

The other big issue is what about drivers who are well out of the points? In other words if you are running 15th halfway through the sprint, what is the motivation to carry on, never mind trying a risky passing move that might make good TV but gain you nothing?

It’s true that on Baku’s streets you never know what might happen ahead and pushing on to the flag could reap rewards. But when we get to the upcoming sprints at normal circuits where there is low attrition and 15th is likely to stay 15th you could speculate that drivers might not been taking too many risks.

After all every lap they do puts precious miles on engines and gearboxes, and these days drivers are well aware that in the context of the cost cap a massive crash this weekend could mean that their team runs out of cash and can’t afford an all-important upgrade a few months down the line.

On the other hand, even if you are not in the points, the sprint is in effect a 17-lap test session ahead of the grand prix itself.

Even after a first lap stop to replace a damaged wing there could be knowledge to be gained. Pirelli expects everyone to use medium tyres for the sprint – so if a pitstop puts you out of contention you could for example switch to softs to gain useful long run info for Sunday.

“I think it’s a balance,” says Sergio Perez. “None of us want to make any damage to our cars, because that can be very penalising on bringing future upgrades and it can have an impact on your future races.

“So, I think it’s not like everyone is going to be taking silly risks for a few points. At the end of the day, it’s important to be able to bring the car home and have a good Sunday. So I think it’s not going to change that much.”

“It depends on the situation obviously, if there isn’t really anything to fight for,” says Esteban Ocon. “But that’s not how we are going into the weekend. We’re going to try to push as far forward as we can. I think keeping on going, getting the knowledge is probably the best thing to do.”

The bottom line is that these guys are racers, and while some may have the potential compromises at the back of their minds, they insist that they will be out there doing their best.

“I mean it’s still a race, there’s still points, and you never know when a safety car can come out and things can happen,” says Lando Norris.

“Points only up to eighth, so a bit harder for some of the midfield cars maybe to get into achieving something. But yes, Sunday is still the main day for us. I think for everyone. It’s still a race at the end of day, so I don’t think you’d ever give up, it’s just doing the best you can.”

“It will be still important laps, important points for the championship,” says Carlos Sainz. “Important learning for the main race so I don’t think an F1 driver will change massively the approach to the start, to the fighting. We will still approach it as a normal race. I don’t think it will change our approach much.”

“I think you’d never know what happens,” says Lance Stroll. “You could be 14th or 15th, and two laps to go, three laps to go, the safety car comes out and something like that and that can give you an opportunity to fit new tyres, whatever, and score points. So I don’t think that changes the mindset as a driver. Just never give up until the chequered flag.”

Certainly some of those who might be on the fringes of making the points think that they might try a little harder.

“I think for example if I would be on the last laps in ninth position, which is just outside of the points in the sprint, then definitely you go for it,” says Valtteri Bottas.

“Obviously, if you break your car or something, then that could have consequences for Sunday. At least you know that you can try and if you’re just on the edge of the points.”

“I think if you’re P9 towards the end of the race and there is an opportunity to attack, but it might be a slightly risky one, you’re going to be more likely to go for it,” says Kevin Magnussen. “So I think that’s an improvement. It’s not going to change the world.”

More action over a GP weekend

Drivers may generally be bullish, but what if it’s out of their hands? If a frontrunner has to pit at the end of lap one and is at the back there’s nothing to stop his team telling him to pit and park the car just to save miles and avoid the risk of incurring damage rather than do the aforementioned testing.

Dropping out might be a bit of a PR own goal, but it’s been done before in the closing laps of grands prix when there’s little hope.

“If you start racing considering that you can crash, it’s not the right approach”

However we can only hope that teams do see the bigger picture and at least keep their cars out on track.

“If you start racing considering that you can crash and lose parts I think it’s not the right approach,” says Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. “Baku was always a mega good event, in terms of show, in terms of driver performance.

“And I think to have the opportunity to do two races, I think that I’m taking this much more as an opportunity for the drivers and the teams to show something than the risk for the part. If you start to think about the pool of spare parts on every single event…”

“We’re all racers at the end of the day,” says Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough. “And I think at a circuit like this, as we’ve seen over the years, safety cars, red flags, anything can happen, so we’re going to be fighting all the way to the end.

“You are going to use that 17-lap race to help you learn as much as you can do for the main race. So, if you’ve had a problem, and you’re on a certain tyre, and you want to try another tyre, potentially you could do that, but really hoping that what you’re going to see tomorrow is a whole group of cars fighting all the way to the end.

“And the jeopardy here, this track, even right until near the end, we saw a red flag restart not that long ago here where you’ve got a great race for a few laps as well. So, we’ll be fighting to the end.”

The bottom line is that one way or another F1 weekends are far more eventful and interesting than with the usual FP1, FP2, FP3 format, and at least we have plenty to talk about.

“I think this is a real positive change,” says Williams boss James Vowles. “I think even more so, if I put myself as a fan, I would go and buy a ticket for Saturday or I would certainly sit at home and watch it. It’s a whole qualifying and race contained within one. And you get the opportunity really to almost reset again on Sunday from what you learned before.

“I think, possibly, as impressively for me, these regulations and there’s a lot of them, were produced with the help of the FIA and the teams working very closely together, in a matter of days, which is a close working relationship that perhaps we haven’t enjoyed previously, but very impressive to see work now.”