Is Reverse Grid Qualifying Race An Option For Formula 1?

Formula 1 has been in this puzzle for quite sometime now. One can say this is the most asked question in the F1 Paddock and Among Fans, " Should F1 Try Reverse Grid Qualifying Format? ". Interestingly there are some good points to look at before jumping to conclusions saying whether it's good or bad for the sport. So, let's see what I think about reverse grid sprint race.

But before that let's see how The Knockout Format (the current qualifying system) and The Reverse Grid Qualifying Format work.

How Does Knockout System Work?

Since 2006 F1 has had the knockout style qualifying which is an hour-long qualifying, divided into 3 session Q1, Q2, Q3. It takes place on saturday afternoon to set-up the grid for sunday's race.

Q1: For the first 20 minutes, all 20 cars on the track try to set the fastest time. The slowest five cars are eliminated, deciding the grid positions from 16 to 20

Q2: In the next 15 minutes, the remaining 15 cars do another round, the lap times set in Q1 are erased . The slowest five cars are eliminated and take the grid positions 11 to 15. The remaining 10 drivers go to Q3 for the top ten shoot-out.

Q3: Then in the last 10 minutes, the last 10 driver's fight for the pole position, or 1st spot on the grid. In this manner the grid for sunday's race is decided.

How Does Reverse Grid Sprint Race Work?

Well a reverse grid qualifying would mean the current format of Q1, Q2, Q3 sessions would be replaced by a Sprint Race. The starting grid of saturday's sprint race would be set in reverse order of the championship standings or reversing the results of last race and the result of this sprint race would set the grid for the grand prix on Sunday.

That being said, this is the basic idea how reverse grid should work.

F1's junior category championship F2 has a different approach to the reverse grid sprint race. (F2's Approach To Reverse Grid)

It will be very interesting to see what F1 and FIA(Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is known as the governing body for Formula One) have to offer, and what approach will they have on reverse grids.

Why Reverse Grid Format?

• The 2020 Italian Grand Prix  held at Monza is a great example why a mixed up grid should be a thing. The race started normally but as the race progressed few events unfolded causing Safety Cars and a Red Flag, which led to a completely mixed up grid with Lewis Hamilton and Antonio Giovinazzi having 10 second stop go penalty. All this chaos led to Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly to win the race. Gasly is the only race winner in last 7 year's out side of Top 3 Teams.
   Viewers can't wait for Mercedes or Hamilton to make a rare mistake so that we have a exciting race.

Scuderia Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly image by Scuderia Alpha Tauri

• The second Italian Grand Prix held at Mugello had so many DNF's and Crashes but still produced a okay race result.

• Not all driver's get to taste a victory or podium in F1 and not all good/talented driver's have opportunity to drive for the Top Teams. Neither do all teams get an opportunity to showcase how much they can do when they get a chance to win. And if they were winning or getting odd podiums it gives them motivation to do better and every team has a chance to score points.

• Mercedes setups their cars in a manner to do fastest laps in qualifying and then lead from the front, but if they knew that they will have to overtake others their approach to this will be different, we saw the same in Monza how Mercedes was struggling with overheating engine when they were stuck in the mid-field and faced difficulty to overtake other cars. A Race Victory should be a hard fought one, sitting on pole having no close competition no one to challenge you for victory just a 300 Km high speed cruise in circles is no fun.

• So when everyone will have a opportunity to win they will work on more possible strategies. Which leads to possible minor mistakes, and then others can capitalize on someone else's mistake. Which is a win-win situation for everybody.

Why Not Reverse Grid Format?

• Let's not forget how Mercedes was a Mid-Field team when they came in F1 a Decade ago, this success didn't come overnight  they have worked hard to be the most dominant team in recent years. They are continuously trying to push themselves to the limit, they are the one who came up with DAS (Dual Axis Steering). If someone is trying so hard to go around the regulation just to get some extra speed and temperature in the tyres without being ruled illegal, It won't be fair to put them at the back of the grid just because they are fast and innovative.

Mercedes AMG F1's Valtteri Bottas image by Mercedes AMG F1

• Well if we are comparing F1 and F2 with how exciting F2 races are with a mixed up grid, we should not forget that F2 is a Spec Series (basically all the driver's drive a identical car in terms of chassis, power unit and other electronics, so it all boils down to driver's talent and strategies) . Whereas F1 in recent times is all about who has the biggest budget, who can spend the most amount of money on every other aspect of the team to make a much better car than other's. So we really don't know how that would pan out given that every team has different performance.

• If Reverse Grid turns out to be a thing in 2021, all I can say is it would make team's like WILLIAMS, HAAS and ALFA ROMEO look stupid. How you ask? Given their performance in 2020 season and The Economics Crisis due to COVID-19 Pandemic F1 has decided to carry majority of 2020 spec car into 2021 with limited development allowed. So their cars for 2020 season are at the back of the grid which means that they are lacking in some major area's of development, if they start at the front, they don't have the power to defend themselves they can barely put up a fight against other's who have much faster car compared to them. They will get overtaken left and right lap after lap and that won't be the right kind of motivation for the team's or the driver's and it will also not portray a good image of their sponsor's

A Silly season like 2020 would have been a real good opportunity to try reverse grid, at venues offering 2 race weekends at the same track. Just to see how it works out for F1 and that was the actual plan F1 had for the delayed start of the season opener in July. But as we all know Mercedes was against that idea saying "F1 doesn't need gimmicks to have exciting Races, when you’re looking at the 100m final in the Olympics, you’re not making Usain Bolt start five metres behind just to make it an exciting finish,” said their team principal, Toto Wolff. As a result F1 didn't go with reverse grid idea for 2020 season at selected weekend until now. F1 can't change the format mid season until all teams agree for the same, I don't see that happening with Mercedes still firm with their opinions.

If 2020 season was yet to happen, I would have loved to see reverse grids at double-headers. But that's not the case here.

Can they try it in 2021? Yes, With New Regulations coming in 2021 F1 doesn't need complete majority to makes changes to the sport, they just need 60% Majority to make a change, that would be 6 out of 10 teams.

But, with Previously Introduced Ground Affect Cars, Budget Cap and New Regulations Changes (Both Sporting and Technical) coming in 2021, later postponed to 2022 due to The Pandemic. F1 should wait to see what 2022 has to offer with those car's and stats showing promise of closer wheel to wheel action. If those car's are ever closer in terms of performance then F1 doesn't have a problem that needs to be fixed by reverse grids. Only if it goes the way it is expected, if the picture remains similar then in future we can see reverse grids or some other alternatives.

I would like to conclude it by saying, 2020 season is half way done there's no point making changes to it and if in 2021 we get to see reverse grids that will be stab in the back for what 2022 has to offer with all major changes to the sport. So, wait and watch what happens in 2022 and then react accordingly.