The 2023 season of Formula 1 has already showcased some changes to the rules with a brand-new qualifying format that will be implemented during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend and another undecided venue. The changes to qualifying were just the first of F1’s new approach to this current, and future, seasons.

Today, F1 has confirmed that updates will be made to the F1 Sprint format during the six different events this year that will run them. The first F1 Sprint will be at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen, winner of last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Image: Getty Images)

The old format for a Sprint weekend was:

Friday - Free Practice 1 followed by qualifying.
Saturday - Free Practice 2 followed by Sprint race.
Sunday - Grand Prix race.

The new format that is being implemented is:

Friday - Free Practice 1 followed by Qualifying for the Grand Prix race.
Saturday - Sprint Shootout Qualifying for Sprint race followed by the Sprint race.
Sunday - Grand Prix race.

The adjustments to the format will also mean that the Sprint race will no longer influence the main Grand Prix race as previously, the Sprint race determined the starting grid order for the main race.

The brand-new Sprint Shootout is a new form of qualifying where there are three sessions, all shorter than a normal qualifying session, and the tyres choice is mandatory for all three sessions; in session one and two, all drivers must use the medium compound and in session three, all drivers must use the soft compound. If any session is determined to be wet, then the driver will have free will over their choice of tyre.

The medium compound tyre that will be mandatory during session one and two (Image: Getty Images)

Session one will run for 12 minutes with the slowest five being knocked out, session two will be ten minutes where the slowest five will be eliminated. The final session will be eight minutes.

The new format will mean there will be less practice for teams to test out new upgrades and secure the optimal car set-up for both qualifying sessions, the Sprint race and the Grand Prix race.

Points for an F1 Sprint race will remain the same with the top eight scoring points, P1 getting eight points and P8 getting one point.

Furthermore, there are also changes being made to the rules surrounding penalties for drivers and teams during an F1 Sprint weekend. The new rules state that any grid penalties that occur during Free Practice 1 or qualifying will be applied to the race and any grid penalty that occurs in the Sprint Shootout will be applied solely to the Sprint race. Any grid penalties that happen during the Sprint race will take place during the main race.

Additionally, any driver or team that breaches parc fermé rules will result in a pit lane start for the Sprint and the race, power unit-related penalties will only apply to races unless they are in breach of parc fermé rules.

Other changes are being made such as the limit of certain power unit components; the ICE (Internal combustion engine), Turbocharger, MGU-K, and MGU-H components will increase from three to four for 2023.

The ruling made earlier this year on the specification of what is allowed and not allowed during a pit stop penalty is now being added to the Sporting Regulations.

Finally, it was agreed upon that the cost cap will exclude ‘Sustainable Initiatives Costs’, for example, costs associated with the installation of sustainable infrastructure, the investigating and monitoring of the carbon footprint of competitors, and any donations to charities that are “engaged in the promotion of environmental sustainability projects and carbon offsets programmes.”

The first Sprint Shootout and Sprint Race of the season will take place this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 28 April - 30 April.

F1 2023: The season of changes