Reuters
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – February 23, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during testing REUTERS/Albert Gea
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – February 23, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during testing REUTERS/Albert Gea
The F1 Sprint has garnered mixed reactions from the fans after its debut in the 2021 season. Although they were some interest during the Sprint weekends, it took away the excitement from the main race on Sunday. In the 2022 season, there will be 3 Sprint races in the sport in Imola, Austria, and Brazil. But Red Bull team principal Christian Horner mentioned the Sprint races make no sense financially in the 2022 season.
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Initially, there was a proposal to have 6 sprint races in 2022. But Red Bull was one of the teams that opposed this proposal as the sport has introduced a budget cap for this season.
WATCH STORY: What Are Sprint Races & Where Will They Be Held?
Financially, it makes zero sense to agree to any sprint races: Red Bull team boss
As reported by BBC, it takes a lot of money to compete in an additional race for the teams during an F1 race weekend. Since there is a budget cap this season, it would make it difficult for the teams to compete in a Sprint race. Horner mentioned that in the year of budget caps it makes no sense to hold any Sprint race.
“Financially, it makes zero sense to agree to any sprint races. But in the interests of the sport, we conceded to agree to three. We’re not even being permitted the increase of inflation,” said Christian.
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Formula One F1 – Mexico City Grand Prix – Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico – November 5, 2021, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
“When you’re seeing gas and electricity bills, the amount of inflation that is going on at the moment… when the budget cap was set, it was set at a limit in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that in many respects is irrelevant to what’s going on in the modern world. So that is why it was limited to three races,” said the Red Bull team boss.
It will indeed be a challenge for the teams to give their best on the Sprint weekends while working under the budget cap this season. Horner is correct in stating that it might have been better to scrape the format for the 2022 season.
Nonetheless, fans know the team will go flat out on the sprint weekends. Hopefully, the new regulations and the cars will bring more excitement to the event than last year.
READ MORE: Who Owns the Red Bull F1 Team?
