Sep.20 - F1 legend Alain Prost says he would boycott the sport if reverse grid races are introduced.
The sport's chiefs are not ruling out tweaks to the new occasional 'sprint qualifying' format for 2022, with some drivers reportedly suggesting that it would be more interesting if grids were shaken up.
But for quadruple world champion Prost, who is now an executive for the Renault-owned Alpine team, that would cross his very bright red line.
"I think it's good that Formula 1 is trying some things, but you have to understand why you want to do this," the Frenchman said. "You have to ask yourself why.
"Formula 1 must remain traditional," the 66-year-old former Ferrari and McLaren driver insisted.
"We have to understand that the best car and the best driver win because they are the best. That's the whole idea of Formula 1.
"I hate the idea of a reverse starting order - I hate it. If they introduce reversed grids in Formula 1, I would leave the sport," Prost warned.
"I think that's the worst thing you could do for Formula 1," he continued.
"I would rather see a team dominate because they did the best work. But I am very much a traditionalist. I'm even not happy about points for pole position."
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Prost is forgetting that the Formula 1 business ends up being money, as it does in all businesses. From a show point of view, it would probably be more attractive if there is a qualy on Saturday that awards points to the top 10, and for these top 10 drivers to start the race in reverse order. In this way, the drivers will fight to set the best time in qualy, as it gives points, and on Sunday we will have a more fun race with faster cars that will have to overtake others to return to the top positions.
Spot on Mr Prost, stop the american style gimmicks in F1 that are destroying the sport
F1, as a brand, is in great danger of losing its exclusivity. Can't blame it all on Liberty, the Euro leadership are advocates chasing the $$$, but at this rate of change F1 will soon be just another racing series.
Couldn't agree more. Prost, myself and many more will stop watching because it would be a show, not a race. Will young people suddenly start watching because they heard about Reverse Grids on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Twitter?
Ecclestone got it right already 40 years ago and made F1 great. He always said children don't have money. You have to target the fathers who have the money to buy the expensive tickets, pay channels, merchandise, etc... Please don't turn this sport into a Marvel script and bring back the grid girls, engine noise and much more famous people to the grid!
Amen brother!
See how well Formula E went? I watched 1/2 of a race and fell asleep. Nürburgring Nordschleife public sessions on YouTube are way more exciting!
Grid kids? Whats the point?
F1 pretends to be carbon neutral... what about all the travel and 1,000s of workers driving cars to work to make race cars? Everyone wants to be so politically correct that its ridiculous.
Even electric cars get a majority of their juice from coal or oil fired plants.
All quite silly.
Yes, Bernie nailed it.... We need screaming V10s and Grid Girls again.
i agree 100%