EXPLAINER | F1 introduces new Sprint Race format that has little to no bearing on a race

After two years of 'experimenting' with the Sprint Race, Formula 1 finally pulled the trigger to improve the spectacle that debuted in 2021.

For 2023, six events will feature the Sprint Race, starting with this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However, F1 announced that this type of weekend would look much different to previous years, with significant changes being implemented.

The alterations are introduced to enhance the racing weekend and improve the show for fans both in attendance at the races and those watching from a screen.

We look at what's new for the Sprint weekends in 2023.

The new addition

When the Sprint Races were introduced in 2021, it altered the entire race weekend.

On Fridays, the action got underway with the first practice session (FP1), followed by qualifying. The qualifying results would determine the starting grid for the Sprint Race on Saturday, with that result determining the grid for Sunday's main race.

Preceding the Sprint Race was FP2.

Now, though, FP2 has fallen away completely, replaced by Sprint qualifying, called the Sprint Shootout. Thus, Sprint Race Saturdays will become an event on its own, bearing no impact on a Sunday's race. Friday's qualifying will determine the starting order for the main race.

In his column on the revised Sprint format, F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto said: "FP2 on a Sprint weekend was widely considered meaningless as all of the big decisions regarding setting up the car had to be done the previous day ahead of qualifying because of parc ferme rules.

"Drivers didn't go out much in that session as there was little point in risking the car given the short gap to the F1 Sprint, which last year set the grid for Sunday's race.

"The new tweaked format leaves