For many decades, Formula One has used the standard side-by-side starting grid formation. However, Liberty Media is considering changing that and reverting back to the format that was used in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
The new proposed grid formation would see the front row have three cars instead of just two. The next row would have two cars and the pattern would repeat to fit the remaining cars onto the grid. This was the most commonly used formation during the ‘50s and ‘60s Formula One, although many tracks had their own unique grid formation. The modern two-by-two starting grid introduced until 1962, but even then was only used at some races, while most used the traditional three-by-two starting grid. It wasn’t until 1974 that the two-by-two grid became the standard.
The proposed change could promote overtaking by allowing a faster car from the second row to pass between the front row of cars without having to adjust their direction. However, having three cars on a single row makes the grid too crowded. It would be chaos at certain circuits like Monaco, which is narrow. This could get pretty dangerous.
While I enjoy the current starting grid, there is a small change that I would like to see, if we had to introduce a change. I’d like to see the rows slightly staggered so that the cars are no longer two rows of single-file cars. I feel it would be safer if a car is stalled on the grid and it would promote overtaking through the middle of the rows, as I described previously.
But at the end of the day, I do think that there is nothing wrong with the current starting grid. There is nothing that I feel really urgently must be changed.
