\n<\/p>\n
First, let\u2019s just deal with the general perception of the sprint weekends in F1.<\/p>\n
The drivers are actually split on them. Max Verstappen has made no secret of his disdain for the sprint format. But Lewis Hamilton is very much for it – he said in Miami that he \u201cloved it\u201d and \u201cwe need more in my opinion\u201d.<\/p>\n
Most of the others are in the middle – they quite enjoy the sprint but would not want it every weekend.<\/p>\n
The teams, meanwhile, are mostly in the final category. They are happy to have some sprints – remember, they voted for them to happen. But many of them, too, don\u2019t want them to become the norm.<\/p>\n
People recognise that there is more competitive track action over a sprint weekend, and that has benefits for the audience.<\/p>\n
But the sprint has a flip side. There are large gaps between sessions – \u201ca lot of hanging around\u2019, as Hamilton has put it – and there are still questions as to whether the sprint race has much meaning.<\/p>\n
And by and large, people like the flow of a traditional grand prix weekend, the feeling that there is a building momentum to the main race.<\/p>\n
Ideally, many would prefer two-day weekends, with one practice session before a qualifying and then the grand prix. But the circuits don\u2019t want that – they need the extra day to generate revenue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n