F1 set to introduce new format for 2022 season

The schedule of a Formula 1 weekend is set to look different in 2022, with a compressed format in a bid to save 24 days of work for the teams.

There are a record-breaking 23 events on the 2022 F1 calendar, so Liberty Media and the FIA have pushed the activities that usually take place on a Thursday to Friday morning. Thursday has typically been the media day during the build-up to a Grand Prix weekend.

The pit lane walks will also no longer happen, with essential personnel only allowed at the track before Friday.

2022 F1 CALENDAR

Practice increased

Friday’s two practice sessions will feature another half an hour of action, meaning each session will be 90 minutes rather than 60 minutes. This is likely to create less panic and urgency to get out onto the track, particularly in the early stages of practice.

With media activities taking place on Friday morning, the first practice session has been pushed back to 12:00 GMT at most events. Subsequently, the second practice session will now take place at 17:00.

The running on Saturday and Sunday will remain the same as 2021, with qualifying and the race beginning at 14:00 GMT on each day.

F1’s new 2022 format

Friday

08:00 (all times GMT) – Media/documentation/scrutineering

12:00-13:30 – FP1

14:00-15:00 – Team representative media session

16:00-17:30 – FP2

18:00 onwards – Media/briefings

Saturday

08:00-09:30 – Driver/fan interaction, autographs

11:00-12:00 – FP3

14:00-15:00 – Qualifying

16:00 onwards – Media/briefings

Sunday

12:30 – Driver parade

14:00 – Race start

17:00 – Media

Why has F1 format changed?

Many team personnel have opened up about the stress and exhaustion of the constant travel from country to country during the season, with very little time to spend time with family and friends at home.

F1 expect one day to be saved at each event compared to 2021 as a result of the revamped format.

The new season will begin with pre-season testing from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 23, before another test in Bahrain in March and the season-opening Bahrain GP on March 20.