Lewis Hamilton U-turns on divisive F1 rule change as George Russell makes...

Lewis Hamilton has changed his mind about reverse grids amid speculation they could be introduced into Formula 1 next year.

F1 chiefs are discussing changes to the Sprint format, which returns in 2024 for the fourth season. Again, six events across the 24-race calendar will use the format which sees two races held over the weekend instead of one.

But changes are set to be made to make the short-form Sprint races more exciting. And one of the ideas under discussion is the introduction of partially reversed grids, which would see a certain number of places flipped around in the result of Shootout qualifying to determine the starting order for the Sprint.It is currently used in the Formula 2 and Formula 3 feeder series, where the top 10 qualifiers are switched around for the Sprint and kept as normal for the main race.

Hamilton has previously suggested he would be against the use of reverse grids in F1. Speaking to reporters at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, the Brit said of the idea: “I don’t really know what to say… the people who have proposed it don’t really know what they’re talking about.”

But his view on the matter seems to have changed. Not only is he in favour of the Sprint format in general, but he seems to be on board with the idea of reversing grids for the short-form race. He said: “Saturday is not the greatest of days, but I like the single practice session straight into qualifying.

“I think we can learn. I love that we do have a different format, rather than just the same three practice sessions and then the qualifying and the race. The best Sprint race I ever had was when I started last [in Brazil 2021] and so I’m in favour of the reverse order, except if we had that then everyone will just try and qualify last!

But his team-mate George Russell is clearly not a fan of the idea. “I won’t talk on behalf of the drivers, but my own personal view is I don’t think reverse grid races will work – purely because I learned this when I raced in Formula 3 and Formula 2,” said the Mercedes racer, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.

“If you’ve got the 10 fastest cars, the most challenging car to overtake is the one who you’re fighting with. If you reverse that grid, you’re going to have the quickest car in 10th trying to overtake the second-quickest car in ninth, which is trying to overtake the third-quickest car which is in eighth. So, each car is actually trying to overtake their most direct competitor.

“What you’ll probably actually find is it would just be a DRS train, because you might have a Williams leading from a Haas, who can’t quite get past, who’s leading from an Alpine, who’s then leading from a McLaren or whoever. So I think the concept won’t work.”