Russell: The sprint races should be “longer”
The question of sprint races has been dividing the paddock for some time now. According to Mercedes driver George Russell, these races should be longer in order to incorporate the factor of tire degradation.
This Tuesday, a Commission meeting between FIA, FOM, and the teams allowed for the establishment of six sprint races for the 2023 season. While Formula 1 had already planned to host six sprint races in 2022, budgetary constraints led to a different decision.
Opinions diverge around this racing system, whether among fans or even the drivers. Some highlight an increased interest due to the sprint races’ action, while others believe that this format still needs to be modified in the future.
The Mercedes driver George Russell himself is not entirely satisfied with this format. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of this format, Russell confessed. It needs to be extended, probably by 50%, or at least enough to see tire degradation. The drivers might need to manage their tires a bit more, so that we can see a greater difference between the cars, he explained.
The Brit regrets the lack of overtaking in sprint races, given that all the drivers are pushing to the max. For the first sprint of the season in Emilia-Romagna, Max Verstappen collected the eight points for the victory ahead of Charles Leclerc, before securing a Grand Slam on Sunday.
