Reversed-grid F1 races still ‘on the table’ for 2021 – Brawn

The idea of introducing reversed-grid races isn’t completely off the table according to Formula 1’s head of motorsport, Ross Brawn.

Although efforts to introduce them this season faltered after Mercedes blocked the move, Brawn says the idea is still on the table for next year.

F1 had hoped to run reversed-grid races at select grands prix this year because some circuits will be hosting more than one race, therefore the idea was that a different format for the second event at the same circuit would help to create more excitement.

But the move would have required unanimous support and Mercedes voted against the proposal in the belief it could hurt their chances of securing a seventh championship.

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But Brawn says the idea hasn’t been dropped completely: “Reverse grid races are still on the table for next year,” he told the official Formula 1 website, adding 2020’s format will only see very “subtle changes”.

Meanwhile Brawn revealed another rule change was considered, but was eventually dropped, which would have allowed a driver and team to drop bad results, but the opportunity to “game” the system meant it was opted against.

“We did talk at one stage of feasibility of perhaps dropping one or two results in the current circumstances,” added Brawn. “The problem with that is the teams could ‘game it’.

“They could work out how they could take advantage of an opportunity and you might find they get to a race where they aren’t likely to score point because they are having problems, so they decide not to finish.

“That would look bad for Formula 1. There’s all sorts of gamesmanship that would go on if there was an opportunity to drop a couple of results, so we concluded, particularly as it will be a shortened calendar, it was better to leave all results in place.”