Prost: I’ll Quit F1 If Reverse-Grid Races Are Introduced

In brief

‘I hate reverse grid races’ – Prost

Prost said he supports Formula 1’s recent decision to trial sprint qualifying, but reacted strongly to proposals that reverse-grid races could follow next season.

“I’m very happy about testing things if it’s possible,” Prost told Alpine’s website. “But you need to understand why you want to make these decisions, what is the reason for it.”

He stressed that Formula 1 should preserve its traditional role as the pinnacle of motorsport, where the best team wins because it has done the best job. “Formula 1 has to stay sort of traditional, that means the technology and the pinnacle of the automobile sport. We need to understand that the best team has to win because it’s the best, because it’s the spirit and the aim of Formula 1.”

On the subject of reverse grids he was unequivocal. “For example the reverse grid, I hate that. I hate that. If they would introduce reverse grid in Formula 1, I think I would quit the sport because I think it’s the worst you can do for the idea of Formula 1. I prefer to have the domination of a team because they have done the best job rather than having that. But I am open. I am very traditionalist.”

Prost, who won 51 grands prix, acknowledged other changes to the sport have been accepted over time, such as adjustments to the points system. “I was not very happy because it’s very difficult to compare to what we had in the past. But on the other side, I remember in ’82 we all finished about five races in the year and reliability was so poor. Now we have a fantastic reliability. So if you have only the first six cars getting points it could happen that some teams never have points so you have to adjust also in a way.”

Ferrari still pushing for reverse grid races

Despite Prost’s stance, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto remains one of the most vocal proponents of exploring reverse-grid ideas. He called the sprint qualifying experiment “a positive experiment” overall but said there is room for improvement and continued discussion.

“If you look at the view of the entire week, obviously not looking at a single day, but as overall in terms of the weekend having already some action on Friday I think is positive. So overall I think we should judge it positively,” Binotto said.

He added that reverse grid ideas are among several options to refine the format. “How can we improve it? Obviously there are some ideas, as the reverse grid. If not, that’s one of the issues that there will be other discussions or ideas that may come up through the F1 Commission with F1 and FIA and other team principals. So I’m fully open-minded.”

“I think what we need is to honestly consider that as an overall positive experiment so far that still can be improved. Let’s see what can be the better ideas compared to the one I suggested.”

Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

Grosjean had to come out for an encore because the crowd was chanting “Grosjean! Grosjean!” and pronouncing it correctly pic.twitter.com/uspbAb1JaB

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) September 19, 2021

https://www.instagram.com/p/CT-VxvFjIMW/

• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

F1 cost cap could make teams worth billions (Speedcafe)

“You have to ask yourself – put aside Ferrari because that’s kind of combined with the road car company – why Formula 1 teams are trading for less than a billion dollars, in some instances significantly less, in a sport that is globally bigger and has more revenues than other sports, and yet those teams (in those other sports) are trading for multiple billions of dollars.”

In profile: Alex Smolyar (F3)

“I think that (Lewis Hamilton’s) the perfect driver both on track and off track. Randomly, I met him last at Austria in a supermarket. I went there one evening and saw a guy wearing designer clothes and a hat, it looked like he was trying to hide his appearance. I realised who it was, he was there with Angela (Cullen).”

German F4 round 14: Hockenheimring (German F4 via YouTube)

German F4 round 15: Hockenheimring (German F4 via YouTube)

German F4 round 16: Hockenheimring (German F4 via YouTube)

We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.

Comment of the day

Guanyu Zhou is the sensible choice for Alfa Romeo, says Juan:

Of the F2 drivers, it’s really between Piastri and Zhou. Pourchaire looks to have great potential, but needs a bit more experience and consistency.

Piastri is a massive talent who has incredible raw speed. He could easily end up as being one of the very elite. Zhou is also quick and has matured into one of the best wheel-to-wheel racers in the sport, able to place his car for an overtake in unexpected corners and capable of very intelligent defence when necessary. Either one would be an excellent choice, but Sauber’s funds, or lack thereof, mean that Zhou is the better choice for the team.

It would, however, be a shame for Piastri if he wins F2 but cannot get an F1 drive and so got kicked off the FIA treadmill. Hopefully F1 teams will have to run a rookie in at least one of their cars on Fridays and he would surely get a drive for Alpine. We would then get to see how he compares to Ocon and Alonso.
@Juan-anger

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Americantifosi, Aus_Steve, Calum, Deadman, Geemac and Saints!

If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or by adding to the list here.

On this day in motorsport

• 40 years ago today Rick Mears clinched the CART Indycar championship in the series’ second visit to Michigan of the season