Alpine govt advisor Flavio Briatore has put ahead a radical proposal to spice up the Method 1 spectacle from Friday onwards by increasing the Dash calendar from the present six occasions to 24.
Method 1 first launched Dash races in 2021 as a trial at three occasions: the British, Italian and São Paulo Grands Prix. Beneath the unique format, Friday qualifying set the grid for Saturday’s Dash, with the results of the 100 km race then figuring out the beginning order for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Solely the highest three finishers scored factors.
Commercial
Since then, the Dash format has been revised on a number of events earlier than reaching its present construction. The championship now options six Dash weekends per season, with the Dash turning into a standalone points-paying race and the highest eight finishers receiving championship factors.
Talking to The Race, Briatore argued that Method 1 ought to introduce Dash races at each Grand Prix weekend. He believes the present Friday schedule affords too little leisure for followers, as observe classes are largely targeted on technical work quite than aggressive working. Briatore additionally urged {that a} Dash offers spectators an additional race to get pleasure from whereas making certain drivers are competing for significant outcomes as an alternative of merely gathering information for his or her engineers. Because of this, he stated the perfect format can be to have 24 Dash races throughout the 24-round calendar.
“I imagine we have to do the dash races. If it was me, each race, as a result of we have to give one thing extra to the spectator. We do nothing for the spectator, as a result of Friday morning is barely technical. You bought two laps, you come again, and persons are not right here.
“After Saturday within the morning, after you’ve got the qualifying and that is finito, you’ve got the race. With the dash race, at the least you’ve got two races, two starters, and the motive force is driving for one thing. He is not driving just for the engineering. For me, 24 races, 24 dash races.”
Photograph: Race Footage
Commercial
Domenicali claims ‘nobody is ‘ in how F1 automobiles are pushed in defence of 2026 guidelines
Briatore’s proposal comes simply days after F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali defended the 2026 laws, arguing that most of the technical issues raised by devoted followers don’t mirror the pursuits of the broader viewers. Referring to a current dialog with Star Wars creator George Lucas, Domenicali defined that newer followers are primarily drawn to the motion on observe and the standard of the racing quite than the technical complexity behind how the automobiles are pushed, reinforcing Method 1’s rising concentrate on delivering a extra entertaining spectacle.
He urged that Method 1 ought to proceed making the game simpler to observe for a broader viewers with out shedding its aggressive enchantment. He additionally pointed to Max Verstappen’s overtake on Lewis Hamilton at Flip 1 in Hungary for instance of the kind of second that resonates with most viewers.
He argued that followers recognize the ability required to provide spectacular strikes, no matter whether or not they perceive the exact function performed by throttle inputs, brake strain or electrical deployment. Whereas acknowledging that detailed technical information stays essential for a smaller group of lovers and can proceed to be obtainable, he maintained that the overwhelming majority of Method 1 followers merely need to watch thrilling racing and distinctive driving.
