This weekend Formula 1 will be implementing a different race format for the British GP, adding the “Sprint Race” on Saturday and moving the regular qualifying method (Q1, Q2 and Q3) to Friday after 1 hour of practice. The positions at the end of the Friday's qualifying will be the starting positions for the Sprint Race. The winner of the Sprint Race will start at pole for the GP on Sunday.

Aston Martin driver, Sebastian Vettel, said:

“I think that’s wrong.”

“Pole is the fastest lap time achieved or the fastest lap time in qualifying. So it gets all a bit confusing.”

“Obviously it depends if this is a one-off then it doesn’t do much harm.” 

“Pole position should go to the guy who goes fastest in one lap.”

“It’s a new discipline, they didn’t have it 50 years ago and now we have it.”

“So then you just add a new column to the statistics.”

One of the goals for this new race format to attract a new public to F1.

“It will be interesting to see [whether] people will like it or not.” Vettel said. 

Sebastian Vettel has 57 poles on his career, being the fourth driver with most poles on F1.

“I think the main event always has to be Sunday otherwise there’s no point hanging around until Sunday we can just go home or finish the weekend Saturday night. We’ll see how it goes, I think it’s the first time so let’s give it a go.”

“I’m fairly open because it is what it is.”

“It won’t change no matter what we say. We'll see, maybe it’s really good. I think generally it’s fine to be open about it.”

Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon, who was alongside Vettel, added: 

"I think that's wrong.”

"Pole is the fastest lap time achieved, or the fastest laptime in qualifying.”

"It gets all a bit confusing. But obviously it depends. If this is a one-off, then it doesn't do much harm.”

"But, if we end up having 10 sprint races next year or in the future, then I think it's just a bit weird. So, pole position should go to the guy who goes fastest in one lap."