It has been reported today (11/3) that Silverstone will host an F1 sprint race ahead of this year's Grand Prix.
Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula One, has announced plans to introduce shorter races on Saturday 17th July in addition to the main Grand Prix that same weekend.
The circuit, just down the road from Milton Keynes, could even draw crowds of over 100,000 fans if the Government's restrictions on social mixing are lifted by then.
The new concept to be trialled is that qualifying will be held on Friday, a 30-minute sprint race at Silverstone and three other venues on Saturday, which will decide positions for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
It has been reported that a decision on sprint races could be made within the next couple of weeks.
Stefano Domenicali told The Daily Mail: "We are finalising the intricacies of it. For sure we do not want to take away the prestige of the Grand Prix itself. That will remain the climax of the weekend. We will have qualifying on Friday and then 'sprint qualifying' on Saturday.
"It will provide some meaningful action the day before the race. It will give fans, media and broadcasters more content. It will last about half an hour. There will be no podium celebration. That will wait until Sunday.
"But points will be awarded — how many is yet to be decided — towards the world championship and determine the grid for the race itself. What I can say is that Silverstone will hold a sprint race."
Silverstone has since supported the idea with MD Stuart Pringle saying it would be "fantastic" for the fans.
