Charles Leclerc shares which F1 rule change in 2024 he’s already very excited about

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has admitted that he’s a big fan of the changes made to Sprint Races for the 2024 Formula 1 season.

F1 returns to China for the first time since 2019 and Shanghai will host the first Sprint Race of the year.

Speaking to Fan Nation, Leclerc has admitted that he thinks the new format will be much more exciting for fans.

Leclerc exciting for new 2024 Sprint Race format

The introduction of Sprint Races to Formula 1 in 2021 was met with a mixed reception from fans.

The format has been altered a few times to try and get the balance right as teams wondered whether sacrificing their potential success in the main Grand Prix was worth going all-out in the shorter race.

The grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix used to be decided by the result of the Sprint Race, but now there are two separate qualifying sessions.

The Sprint Race sessions have been moved for 2024 and Charles Leclerc believes it will make the weekend more exciting.

There are concerns that the FIA have opened themselves up to ‘even more criticism’ with the alterations implemented.

If it gives anyone not named Max Verstappen the chance to win a race, then fans might quickly get behind it given his impressive recent dominance.

Sprint Races set to feature at six Grand Prix this season

Asked about the changes, Leclerc said: “It’s something that I like as a driver because, now in Formula One, we’ve got FP1, FP2, FP3, where you haven’t got anything really to play or challenge for apart from learning about your car, which is always nice.

“But competition is what I love most. So, to have a very important session straight away on a Friday, it’s something I like, and I think the changes will make it better as well, just because we’ve got now the chance to change the car after the sprint race, which is a good thing.

“Because I feel like sometimes when you are getting it wrong, or if you had a bad one then you had no way to recover, which now, it will be a bit better.”

Max Verstappen dominated with the Sprint Race format last year but Leclerc will hope the slight tweaks made in 2024 will give him a better chance.

He’s got a more ‘extreme’ car arriving soon as Ferrari prepare their first major upgrade of the season.

Whether that will be enough to close the gap with Red Bull remains to be seen but right now they’re clearly the second-best team on the grid.