Following a Formula 1 Sporting Commission meeting and with just one month to go before the start of the 2022 World Championship, the FIA has decided to change some of the rules. Among other modifications, the commission has announced that there will be just three sprint qualifying races during this season instead of the six that were initially planned. 

With the resolution of the investigation on the controversial 2021 final still pending, Formula One bosses also plan to announce a series of structural changes in the coming days. Meanwhile, the International Federation of the Automobile has officially announced that the Emilia-Romagna (April 24), Austria (July 10) and Brazil Grand Prix (November 13) will follow the Sprint format. 

Financial demands reduce F1 sprint races by half   

The demands for greater financial support from the teams, as a way of compensation to cover possible accident expenses, has forced the FIA to abandon plans to celebrate six GPs on the sprint race format this season. This change, however, has come as a surprise considering the recent announcement by F1 sporting director Ross Brawn of an agreement with the teams to hold six short races in 2022. 

The classification sessions of these three Sprint GPs will remain the same as in their debut season, taking place on Friday rather than Saturday. The result of that fight against the clock will determine the starting order of the short race, which, in turn, will establish the grid for Sunday’s race. Also, in order to avoid the confusion of 2021 and for statistical reasons, the fastest driver to one lap on Friday will get the pole. 

On the other hand, the new rules will try to encourage more fighting and make sprint races more exciting by offering more points for a greater number of competitors. Last year only the first three got 3, 2 and 1 points respectively but now the top eight finalists will be rewarded. The winner will take eight points, and the remaining seven will get one point less successively with the eighth classified getting just one point.  

Avoiding another Belgium 2021 

The embarrassing events of the Belgian GP 2021 are still fresh in everyone’s memories. There, Max Verstappen was awarded half of the points at stake and was proclaimed the winner of a race that never took place, because it was cancelled following a burst of torrential rain. The rules have now changed so this can not happen again. From this year onwards, points will only be awarded if the winner completes at least two laps with no safety car or virtual safety car. 

In addition, to try and make things more equitable, the distribution of points will depend on the distance covered. Specifically, the first will get six points if the race extends for over two laps but for less than 25% of the distance initially established. 

If the race continues for 25% to 50% of its distance, the winner will take 13 points, while those immediately behind him will get 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively. Finally, if they compete for 50% to 75% of the official distance, the winner will get 19 points, and his pursuers will be awarded 14, 12, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1 respectively. 

Finally, the FIA’s conclusions also address the thorny issue of the 2021 finale in  Abu Dhabi, where Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) lost the World Championship in the last round after a controversial intervention from the race director. 

The new FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is in fact planning to announce an action plan over the coming days which is said to contain structural aimed at preventing a repeat of what happened in Yas Marina. 

F1 sprint races source: F1.com