Silverstone has been chosen to host one of the first sprint races before this year’s Formula One British Grand Prix, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Stefano Domenicali, Chief Executive of Formula One, said that the iconic Northamptonshire circuit is one of three venues that will trial the revolutionary sprint race, with Silverstone's due to take place on Saturday, July 17.
The other venues being touted to host spring races are Monza in Italy, Interlagos in Brazil and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, the report says.
The concept behind the sprint race format is that qualifying, traditionally held on the Saturday of the race weekend, will be instead held on Friday, with the results determining the starting grid for Saturday's sprint race, which in turn will decide grid positions for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Domenicali told the Daily Mail: “We are finalising the intricacies of it. For sure we do not want to take away the prestige of the Grand Prix itself. That will remain the climax of the weekend. We will have qualifying on Friday and then “sprint qualifying” on Saturday.
“It will provide some meaningful action the day before the race. It will give fans, media and broadcasters more content. It will last about half an hour. There will be no podium celebration. That will wait until Sunday.
“But points will be awarded — how many is yet to be decided — towards the world championship and determine the grid for the race itself. What I can say is that Silverstone will hold a sprint race,” he added.
Final details around the sprint race format will be discussed on Thursday at a meeting of F1 bosses and race teams in Bahrain, where pre-season testing is due to begin, the report said.
The 2021 Formula One season is due to get underway in Bahrain on March 26-28.
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Keyword: Silverstone to host revolutionary F1 sprint race before British Grand Prix, says report