Was the new Sprint format a success and has Sergio Perez's win rattled Max Verstappen?

Sky F1's Ant Davidson and Rachel Brookes are joined by Max Verstappen's former performance engineer Blake Hinsey to reflect on the new Sprint format in Baku (06:30). They also discuss the title battle between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (26:45) and explain why Aston Martin's 'bromance' is the dream partnership (49:31).

**Main Discussion Points:**

- **Confusing Format:** The new sprint format in Baku left many, including the hosts and guest, feeling confused and exhausted. The condensed schedule and the lack of clarity regarding rules and procedures made it challenging for teams, drivers, and fans to follow.

- **One Practice Session:** The single practice session posed a significant challenge for teams, limiting their ability to gather data and make informed setup decisions. This impacted the drivers' confidence and performance throughout the weekend.

- **Impact on Race Strategy:** The sprint race influenced the race strategy for Sunday's Grand Prix. Teams had to balance their performance in the sprint with their tire management for the main race. This led to some drivers prioritizing Sunday's race over the sprint, resulting in a lack of excitement and drama during the sprint.

- **Max Verstappen's Disapproval:** Max Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the sprint format, calling it boring and suggesting it should be scrapped. He felt that the format detracted from the traditional build-up and excitement of a race weekend.

- **Potential Tweaks to the Format:** The hosts and guest discussed various ideas to improve the sprint format. Suggestions included relaxing Parc Ferme rules to allow teams to make setup changes between the sprint and the race, giving points to more positions in the sprint, and reducing the sprint shootout session to a single lap.

- **Excitement Despite Format Issues:** Despite the challenges with the format, the hosts acknowledged that the sprint race in Baku still produced some exciting moments, such as the close battle between George Russell and Max Verstappen.


**Main Segments:**

1. **The New Sprint Format in Baku:**
- The drivers' perspectives on the high-risk, high-reward strategy due to the sprint format.

2. **Title Battle Between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez:**
- Perez's strong performance and potential to challenge Verstappen for the championship.
- Verstappen's body language and response to Perez's success.

3. **Aston Martin's 'Bromance':**
- The dynamic between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as teammates.
- Their willingness to help each other on the track and share information.

**Key Points:**

- The sprint format in Baku led to aggressive driving and increased risk-taking by drivers.

- Perez's victory in the sprint and strong race performance have positioned him as a potential title contender against Verstappen.

- Verstappen's body language and comments suggest he is feeling pressure from Perez's challenge.

- Alonso and Stroll's collaborative approach as teammates showcases a positive team dynamic at Aston Martin.

- The engineers play a crucial role in facilitating teamwork and sharing information between drivers.

**Insights and Controversies:**

- Blake Hinsey highlights the unique challenges faced by drivers in adapting to different car characteristics and finding the optimal setup.

- Rachel Brookes observes a change in Sergio Perez's demeanor this season, suggesting a more determined and focused approach.

- The discussion touches on the psychological aspects of street circuit racing, emphasizing the need for drivers to let go of inhibitions and enter a "flow state."

- The podcast briefly addresses the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of the new sprint format in Formula One.


## New Sprint Format in Baku ##

- Sky F1's Ant Davidson, Rachel Brookes, and Max Verstappen's former performance engineer, Blake Hinsey, discuss the new Sprint format in Baku.
- The Sprint format introduced a shorter race on Saturday to determine the grid for the main race on Sunday.
- The drivers and teams had mixed reactions to the new format, with some finding it exciting and others criticizing it for being too short and chaotic.
- Hinsey believes the Sprint format could be improved by making it longer and giving the drivers more time to settle into a rhythm.

## Title Battle between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez ##

- Verstappen and Perez are currently battling for the lead in the Drivers' Championship.
- Verstappen has a slight lead over Perez, but Perez has been closing the gap in recent races.
- The two Red Bull drivers have a good relationship and have been working well together so far this season.
- However, there is some concern that the title battle could become more intense as the season progresses.

## Aston Martin's 'Bromance' ##

- Aston Martin teammates Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel have developed a close friendship this season.
- The two drivers have been seen joking around and supporting each other both on and off the track.
- Vettel has been a mentor to Stroll, and the two drivers have helped each other improve their performances.
- The 'bromance' between Stroll and Vettel has been a positive story in Formula One this season.

## Other Notable Topics Discussed ##

- The drivers' concerns about the new regulations, which have made it more difficult to follow other cars closely.
- The excitement surrounding the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, which will be held for the second time this year.
- Blake Hinsey's thoughts on the new Sprint format and how it could be improved.

## Overall Message ##

The podcast provides an informative and engaging discussion of the new Sprint format in Baku, the title battle between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, and the 'bromance' between Aston Martin teammates Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel. The podcast also highlights some of the key issues facing Formula One this season, such as the difficulty of following other cars closely and the concerns about the new regulations.