For the spherical on the Hungaroring, F1 modified the foundations governing tyre allocation and restricted every automobile to only 11 units of slick Pirelli rubber over the weekend. This additionally locked the groups into operating exhausting tyres in Q1, medium tyres in Q2, and softs in Q3.
The side-effect of the diminished allocation was hindered follow operating, though FP1 was arguably hit much less exhausting as moist climate supplied the groups the possibility to make use of the intermediate and moist tyres to scale back the impression on their allowance.
In his reactions to the ATA format trial, Sainz felt that he had been collateral in F1’s want to spice up qualifying – and, though he didn’t agree that the format wanted livening up, he felt that it was the championship’s prerogative and had extra concern with diminished follow operating.
“I discover [the format] fascinating for quali, for the remainder of the weekend, very boring, very boring. We arrive right here on a Wednesday to organize every part. After which on Friday you spend extra time within the storage than operating [in front of] the followers, as a result of we now have no tyres.
“Why even hassle doing two one-hour follow classes if you do not have tyres to run? Or why even having Friday if we now have no tyres to run on them and to study from the automobile, the monitor and placed on a present for the followers?
“Positively, one thing wants reviewing – both the format or the tyre allocation, the 2 on the identical time, it is such as you’re not doing one factor or the opposite.
“That is what I feel comes [from trying to] boost the issues. Right now, I’ve paid the value for it. However for F1, in the event that they wish to spice it up, I imply I do not assume they should, but when they wish to combine issues up a bit, then combine them up. However that is why I do not complain about qual and I complain a bit extra concerning the free follow stuff.”
Hungarian Grand Prix polesitter Lewis Hamilton agreed with Sainz’s evaluation that the impact on follow was not notably conducive to good leisure for the Friday crowds.
Nevertheless, he accepted that the knock-on impact of the tyre allocations had nonetheless produced an fascinating qualifying session.
Max Verstappen additionally concurred that the diminished operating in Friday follow was not a very fascinating by-product of the ATA trial, and likewise voiced his disagreement that the session format didn’t have to be modified.
“Yeah, I am probably not positive. I imply, individuals stated that we criticised the ATA, I feel it was extra simply the truth that simply being aware of the followers right here, once we solely have one set within the session, we now have much less operating,” Hamilton stated.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
“And already after they modified the foundations a few years in the past once we solely have two units within the session does not lead you to a whole lot of operating and we now have much less time on monitor as properly.
“So I am unsure that was essentially the perfect for the Friday for leisure, however in the present day clearly supplied nice [entertainment], it was nice beginning on the exhausting within the first session after which over to the medium. I usually loved the qualifying session in that respect.
“I like the traditional format. I do not assume there’s something mistaken with it,” Verstappen added.
“And I feel when you’ve got automobiles that are simply very shut, like we had now a Q3 on a gentle, that was most likely nonetheless essentially the most thrilling. So you may nonetheless even have that in Q1, Q2 on gentle tyres. So does not actually matter within the format
“I feel it is extra vital, like Lewis stated on Friday that we simply run, as an alternative of simply sit within the field. Persons are paying a lot cash to take a seat on the grandstand and you are not doing a whole lot of laps, in order that’s not very best.”
Fernando Alonso was stronger in his opposition to the diminished amount of tyre units, labelling it a “catastrophe” and felt that the spectators had been short-changed by much less on-track operating throughout follow.
“It was unusual, however not an enormous deal,” Alonso defined. I feel the largest draw back of this format is the follow that we can not take a look at as a result of we’re saving tyres. I am not a fan of the format. I feel it was a catastrophe to see automobiles not operating in free follow as a result of we’re saving tyres.
“I feel it did not add something to the present. I really feel unhappy for the spectators, they paid the ticket for Friday, FP1, FP2 and FP3, and automobiles on the within the storage as a result of we do not have tyres to run.”