Top three in F1 Sprint qualifying to receive crowns

Formula 1 F1 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Great Britain – August 2, 2020 General view at the start of the race Pool via REUTERS / Ben Stansall / File Photo

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) – The top three in a new Sprint qualifying race that starts on Saturday at the British Grand Prix will receive old-fashioned laurel wreaths in the absence of any podium celebration.

The 100km Sprint will set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix at Silverstone and, although some points will be awarded to the top three, there will be no formal podium to avoid damaging the main event.

None of the drivers will be credited with a podium or race victory, but they will get a victory parade in front of the fans and be presented with specially designed wreaths to wear around their necks.

“F1 Sprint is a whole new and exciting format, so we thought it was important to provide such a special post-race moment,” said Alex Molina, Formula 1 Show event director.

“The moment recognizes the sport’s seven decades of history and combines it with a modern twist – very similar to the Sprint itself.”

Former Formula 1 drivers were given large laurel wreaths to wear on the podium, but they had the downside of covering the marks of teams and sponsors and the tradition ended in the 1980s.

Seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton is aiming for a record-breaking eighth British Grand Prix victory this weekend, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is 32 points ahead after nine races.

Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis

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