Rising Star Gabriel Bortoleto Raises Concerns Over Sprint Races in F1
The Formula 1 world is abuzz with discussions about sprint races, especially after Stefano Domenicali hinted at potentially increasing the number of sprints in the future. Amidst this chatter, young Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who has been making waves in his debut F1 season, has voiced his apprehensions about the sprint format.
Bortoleto’s unease stems from the prospect of a sprint race in Singapore next year, particularly due to the unique challenges posed by the Marina Bay Circuit. The circuit, known for its night races, would host a daytime sprint, raising concerns about the heightened risks posed by the close walls and limited margin for error. Expressing his reservations, Bortoleto, who will no longer be a rookie next season, highlighted the potential difficulties the calendar may present for future newcomers, as sprint weekends reduce available track time to just one free practice session.
“Not being a rookie next year, but it’s definitely a problem,” remarked Bortoleto. “Singapore in the daytime… not ideal. I was fortunate to enter F1 at this time. There are a few sprints, but not too many yet. But for future rookies, I think having sprints, with just one practice session, won’t be easy.”
The F1 authorities are contemplating expanding sprint events, possibly to as many as 12 per season – half of the calendar. While Bortoleto is open to the idea in principle, acknowledging the added races and fan entertainment, he underscores that numerous sprint weekends could impede teams’ ability to adjust cars and gather crucial data. He emphasized that 12 sprints would be a “hard limit,” noting that the traditional format with multiple practice sessions is vital for car development and technical work.
“I’m accustomed to the current format,” Bortoleto stated. “I believe the current one is not bad. I like having FP1, FP2, and FP3 to develop, test things on the car, and make adjustments. That’s what I find fascinating in F1, how you can delve into details and make fine-tuning. With a sprint weekend, time is always short, and you need to act quickly, sometimes not being able to maximize things in time.”
While acknowledging the benefits for fan entertainment and the weekend’s excitement, he expressed doubts about having more than 12 sprints at any point. “I think that’s already a hard limit.”
