Will we see two qualifiers in Baku? Teams agree on new race weekend format for Azerbaijan GP

Will we see a new race weekend format in Azerbaijan? It is quite possible, because all ten teams have agreed on the change, now we are just waiting for the official confirmation. So if it actually goes through, we will see two qualifying sessions at the Baku circuit.

Formula 1 is currently on a three-week break. The queen of motorsport has had its season opener with the first 3 races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. So, although it won’t restart until almost a month from now, the teams have already reached an agreement for the race weekend in Azerbaijan.

The agreement was made during a meeting that was held on the subject of format changes for the sprint race weekends. It is in Azerbaijan that fans will witness the first sprint race this year.

At the moment, the schedule is set so that all the action at the Baku circuit will kick off with the first Friday free practice on April 28. Qualifying is scheduled for the same day. On Saturday there will be a second practice session and the sprint itself, followed by the classic race on Sunday.

However, Formula Racing News 365 has reported in the last few hours that all ten teams have agreed on a change that will add an extra qualifying session to the programme.

Firstly, the new format of the sprint race weekend will bring a little more attraction once again. The second was to eliminate the otherwise unnecessary second free practice session.

This is because teams are limited in what they can do with their car due to the parc fermé rule from Friday’s qualifying.

The new format of the race weekend

So what does the new format look like, but which has yet to be officially approved? Friday’s events won’t actually change in any way. The race weekend will kick off with free practice on Friday, followed by qualifying, which will determine the grid order for Sunday’s race.

But on Saturday, instead of a second practice session, another qualifying session is scheduled to take place to determine the order for the start of the sprint race. And on Sunday, again in classic fashion, all eyes will be on the start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

F1, Racing News 365