What to anticipate from the third dash weekend in 2023?

With the third Dash of the season happening this weekend, groups and drivers might want to maximize each single on-track motion to get one of the best out of their vehicles. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó picks out the important thing issues to recollect forward of the dash race format.

This weekend will see drivers fine-tune their vehicles in only one free follow session earlier than qualifying, after which Dash Saturday’s two aggressive classes.

It means all groups might want to make that selection when it comes to aerodynamic set-up inside simply the one hour of observe working. Nevertheless, issues look to be much more difficult this outing with the climate set to be changeable over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

The possibility for average rain is 80 per cent for each Friday and Sunday whereas heavy thunderstorms are anticipated for Saturday. It might imply that drivers will begin the qualifying session with out finishing a single lap on dry observe. It will lock drivers within the setup configuration groups have give you by way of their simulations.

The dash race was launched in 2021 with the particular format first making look at three venues. 2022 noticed three venues host the 100-km sprint occasion on Saturday with the 2023 season set to stage six dash weekends.

Baku was the primary venue to function the dash format with Austria (Pink Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), Qatar (Lusail Circuit), the US (Circuit of The Americas) and Sao Paulo (Interlagos) the opposite F1 Dash venues for 2023.

How has the dash weekend developed for this yr?

Nevertheless, the dash race format has been closely up to date for this yr to be able to optimize the weekend schedule.

The principle cause for the change was that the Saturday follow session had been topic to harsh criticism as drivers and groups had not been allowed to make any tweaks to their vehicles following the Friday qualifying session. One other important level was the truth that the schedule had pressured drivers to race fastidiously within the dash race as a dismal end result would have negatively affected their beginning place for the grand prix.

On account of it, the game launched tweaks to the dash weekend with the result of the dash not have any bearing on the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.

The Dash has turn into a standalone ingredient, with the Saturday follow having been renamed Dash Shootout. The brand new session determines the grid for the Dash. The result of the Dash not determines the grid for the Grand Prix, with Qualifying for the Grand Prix happening on Friday.

Fridays now consists of an FP1 session and normal qualifying session to set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, whereas Saturdays consists of the 100km race with an extra, previous qualifying session referred to as the ‘Dash Shootout’.

The shootout is a shorter session than conventional qualifying, with SQ1 working for 12 minutes, SQ2 for 10 minutes and SQ3 for eight minutes. New tyres are necessary for every part, with mediums for SQ1 and SQ2, and softs for SQ3.

How are factors and penalties handed out?

The revised dash format sports activities the identical factors system as final season with eight handed out to the winner, seven to second place, six to 3rd and so forth down to 1 in eighth – each drivers and groups will log factors of their respective championships.

The way in which penalties are handed out have additionally been revised. A grid penalty incurred in P1 or Qualifying applies to the Race whereas a grid penalty incurred within the Shootout utilized to the Dash. Nevertheless, a grid penalty incurred within the Dash must be served within the race.

A breach of parc fermé ends in a pitlane begin for the Dash and Race. Any penalties concerning the facility unit solely apply to the Race (until they’re additionally a parc fermé breach).