Formula 1 bosses are pushing to introduce reverse grid races for the second race of each double-header weekend, as part of plans to experiment with the race weekend format.
The delayed 2020 F1 season is set to get underway on July 5 in Austria followed swiftly by a second race at the same circuit the following weekend in July 12.
The F1 circus is then set to visit Hungary before heading to Silverstone for a second double-header event on August 2 and 9 – pending approval by the UK government.
Discussions have taken place to use the one of each of the Austrian and British rounds to experiment with the format by introducing a reverse grid qualifying race on Saturday, which would then decide the grid for Sunday’s main event.
The specifics haven’t yet been divulged, but it’s likely Saturday’s grid would be formed by the opening weekend race result, therefore a driver that suffers a reliability failure could be handed an advantage as they would start higher up.
Saturday’s race result would then determine the grid for Sunday’s race with the expectation that the quicker cars would naturally work their way to the front, but it would still throw up an unexpected result.
The remaining races on the calendar would follow the same format as previously, which has been in place since 2010.
F1 bosses have yet to put the idea to a vote, which is likely to happen in the coming days, but it’s unclear if it would require unanimous support given a recent rule change which allows the FIA to push through changes with only majority in support. This however is only meant to be used under “exceptional circumstances”.
It’s hoped the teams would be open to experimentation during what is likely to be an unusual season already given the delayed start due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shortened calendar.
F1’s Ross Brawn has previously attempted to push through such changes when he proposed non-championship weekends to trial format changes for ’21, but the idea was not supported by the teams.
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