23/04/2022 17:35 CEST
Welcome to Imola! Welcome to Emilia Romagna! It’s Grand Prix Saturday, it’s… Racing Saturday! Yes, you are reading it right. First weekend of the year with a sprint race format (there will be three) and, therefore, we will have a race today and tomorrow. The one that comes in a few minutes, barely 21 laps.
Let’s go by parts… As we have explained, the race will last 21 laps, or what is the same, around half an hour if there are no red flags. For Sunday the ‘traditional’ race is left, in this case at 3:00 p.m. and with 63 laps.
But the main and most important change is the distribution of points. In 2021, only the drivers who got on the podium in the ‘sprint’ event scored (3-2-1, respectively). This is what has changed the most, since on Saturday 36 points will be distributed compared to those six. top eight from ‘sprint race’ will therefore have the opportunity to score: The first, eight points; the second, seven; the third, six; the fourth, five; the fifth, four; the sixth, three; the seventh, two; and the eighth, one.
Finally, to decide the grill order you have to travel to the past. Until yesterday. In the Classification, Max Verstappen achieved pole position. Leclerc, 2º; Norris, 3º. Fernando Alonso He will be the first of the Spaniards: 5th with his Alpine. Carlos Sainzwho hit the wall in Q2, will start 10th.
To end this introduction, something important: the order in which they finish today’s race will determine tomorrow’s grid. Abandonment can be fatal…