Will revised F1 sprint races deliver all-out battles? MotoGP offers an answer…

MotoGP went big with its sprint race program this year, adding it to every race on the calendar. Fewer practice sessions and one qualifying that sets the grid for both races was similarly designed to make sure there was something riding on every day of the weekend, but as our MotoGP correspondent Mat Oxley can explain a lot better than I can, that only works if you have good racing.

F1’s midfield has been really exciting, but essentially Red Bull has six more opportunities to win races at this point. The idea that drivers have been settling for position in the past because they don’t want to risk their Sunday starting spot doesn’t negate the fact that the fastest car wins if all goes to form.

In MotoGP, the opening two sprint races were full of action as riders risked everything knowing they needed to make quick progress and ride flat out for the full Saturday event. But with so many ending up in hospital and the points return still a lot less than Sunday’s GP, the third round in Austin saw an apparent change in approach, as the payoff just wasn’t worth the potential pain. The action dropped away, and it was hardly in front of a massive crowd.

Now there’s a big difference between MotoGP and F1 given how injuries are thankfully far more scarce in the latter, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t risks. While crashing in the sprint – or sprint shootout – might not impact a driver’s chances in the main event (enough damage could, of course), it will come with a financial cost.

And while the budget cap was increased to take into account sprint damage, surely if you can only chase a maximum of eight points, and need to be a top eight finisher to score, Saturday is not the day to potentially pick up a six- or seven-figure repair bill.

My gut feeling is that without a more competitive fight at the front, the sprint won’t feel quite as exciting as it could be, but perhaps I’ll be proven wrong. On the whole I prefer to have more competitive sessions than practice, but not every week.

The way a race weekend builds during a “normal” weekend and there is great anticipation come lights out on Sunday is diluted a little during a sprint event, and the same has been true during MotoGP’s first three rounds. Even if each F1 sprint is a great success this year, the fact it’s different could well be playing a part.

Domenicali’s baby steps have brought what could be a welcome variation to the format at certain races across the year, but if those steps continue to the point that the sprint schedule becomes the norm at every venue, then there’s a chance the weekend as a whole just lacks the crescendo that made grand prix racing so special

MotoGP’s the proving ground this year, and F1 needs to be watching closely.