Formula 1: what is the inverted grid, the change that could revolutionize the category in 2023

After an electrifying championship decided on the last lap of the last round of the year, the current season of the Formula 1 is not exhibiting the same parity: Dutch Max Verstappenwinner of 11 of the 16 races, he leads the race with a lead of 116 points over the Monegasque Charles Leclerc. This situation and the need to constantly renew the category to continue to seduce the public leads the highest authorities to consider regulatory changes that help restore parity among competitors.

“You have to change. You have to try, although there are always plenty of excuses not to. Purists always turn up their noses, but Formula 1 has changed the shape of qualifying dozens of times over the years. It is an urgent need to have even more show “, stated Stefano Domenicali, president and managing director of the categorywho since assuming those positions in January 2021 has promoted changes such as the creation of a sprint race on some race weekends.

In an interview published in the Italian newspaper Corriere della SeraDomenicali, who worked for Ferrari for 23 years (he became team manager and sporting director) and then vice president of Audi and president and CEO of Lamborghini, called Formula 1 “a sport and also a show” and felt that for this it was necessary to keep the expectations of the fans high.

In this sense, he assured that his greatest satisfaction as the main authority in the category was the definition of the 2021 title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which Verstappen snatched the crown from Briton Lewis Hamilton on the last lap. “Leaving aside the controversy, it would be a dream if all the championships were decided in the last Grand Prix”he was excited.

The permanent expectation on which the Italian leader points is the one that drives those changes that are being evaluated and that will be discussed at the next meeting of the Formula 1 Commission of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). “I wish there was always a fight for something that matters for the title. The sprint race was only the first sign that there is room for improvement. “Domenicali kept.

Among the ideas he revealed in that interview is that of giving added value to the two training sessions that usually take place on the Friday of each race weekend. One of the options is that they award points. The other, which are used to determine the starting order of a sprint race to be held every Saturday to replace the third training session.

In that sprint race, another of the proposals that the Formula 1 guide is analyzing, which, for the moment, seems to find resistance among most of the drivers, would be implemented: the use of an inverted starting grid. “Many people say no, but we have seen in a few occasions the beauty of having rearrangements in the race, more overtaking. We have an obligation to try, “he said.

What is that inverted grid that never ceases to seduce the racers?

In the modification of the starting order to which a group of drivers would correspond by virtue of the position reached in the standings. This is not a new methodology, as it is already used in other categories.

In fact, one of those that uses it is the Formula 2which serves as a preliminary to reaching the premier class, which also doubles as the usual opening act (they share a large part of their calendars) and in which in the last five years, since its creation in 2017, eight of the 20 pilots who have participated this season they are intervening in the maximum motoring circus.

Each Formula 2 racing weekend features two races: the main race, which takes place on Sunday, and a sprint, which takes place on Saturday. The starting grid for both is established on the basis of the results of the qualifying session which will take place on Friday, albeit with a substantial difference.

In the case of Sunday’s test, the drivers begin to respect the established order in the standings. In the case of the sprint, the top ten on Friday reverse their position on the grid. Thus, for example, the first in the ranking starts tenth, the second long ninth and tenth gets the first starting place. The 12 riders who are between 11th and 22nd place in the standings do not change their starting squares.

An inverted grid system is also used in Formula 3, the other category that accompanies F1 in some of its competitions. Even if, in that case, the alteration of the starting positions in the sprint is valid for the first 12 of the ranking. This scheme allowed Argentina Franco Colapinto, who had been 12th in the standings on Friday, started first last Saturday in Monza and won the sprint from start to finish. A similar situation had been experienced in April in Imola, where he had obtained his first victory in the category in which he has competed since this year.

The inverted grid system has also been adopted in Argentina: it is used by the Top Race in its three divisions (Top Race V6, Top Race Series and Top Race Junior). In all three cases, the top eight in the standings reverse their positions at the start of the sprint race. In the main competition the first eight starting places correspond to the eight best in the ranking, while the ranking of the others is determined on the basis of the final position in the sprint.