P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 has released details of its new sprint weekend format as well as changes to DRS activation and power unit allocations
Formula 1 has announced the details of its new sprint weekend format, which includes changes to DRS activation and power unit allocations. On Fridays of sprint race weekends, there will now be practice one and sprint race qualifying instead of FP1 and grand prix qualifying. The sprint race will be the first on-track F1 action on Saturday, effectively concluding the sprint element of the weekend. Grand prix qualifying will take place after the sprint race on Saturday, with the grand prix itself remaining on a Sunday. The sprint format has been altered for the third time in four seasons, with the Chinese Grand Prix hosting the first sprint race of the year, followed by sprints in Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar. Additionally, DRS will now be activated at the end of the first lap and after a safety car period, and each driver will have four power units per year for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, up from three.