Why Winterbottom is “loving” Aus GP sprints

Whilst some are missing pit stops, Mark Winterbottom is a big fan of the flat-out sprints at the Australian Grand Prix.

In a change for 2024, compulsory pits stops have been removed from the Melbourne SuperSprint schedule after pits were required in all four races last year.

Some drivers are disappointed to lose the pit strategy element of the racing, however, there is also a view that the compulsory stops to run both the Hard and SuperSoft tyre detracted from the racing in 2023.

The 11-lap race on Saturday last year was a prime example where almost the entire field pitted on the penultimate lap only to complete one lap on the harder compound.

When the Australian Grand Prix became a championship round in 2018, the two shorter sprints did not feature pit stops while the longer ones did.

In 2022 all four races were 20 laps and featured a tyre change whilst last year the compulsory stop remained despite some races being so short.

Due to the addition of F2 and F3 the Supercars schedule remains compressed with two 14 lap races today and tomorrow, but there is an argument that the racing is as good as it ever has been at Albert Park with multiple cars dicing for position amid the flat out sprint racing.

Although there is no pit strategy involved, drivers have still been forced to strategically use their soft tyre rubber as it degrades throughout the race.

One driver enjoying the old school style of racing which was a staple in ATCC rounds through the 1980s and 1990s is Winterbottom.

“I am loving it,” he told AUTO ACTION.

“I have always loved high deg races, especially at Perth because it was like playing chess which creates good racing.

“You have guys that are pushing but also conserving and if you get it right, you can gain positions. 

“The best races are when the tyres go off the quickest and the sprint format is cool.

“The pit stops here were terrible for the racing here. You do one lap on hards and 12 on softs, so I didn’t get it.

“Now you have a strategy where the driver takes control and not the engineer.

“You can see that we are all different because some are aggressive early but can’t make it last or some come home strong.”

Winterbottom continued in the press conference labelling the Melbourne SuperSprint as “some of the best racing we have seen for a long time.”

“The racing is ridiculously good fun because we are all pushing as hard as we can without anyone taking each other so it’s to the limit,” he said.

“You have guys going four wide, bombing down the inside and doing switchbacks.

“Drivers can artificially pass you while here you have to pass them on track.

“The non pits although controversial, have been mega for the races.

“I think that is the best racing we have seen in this category for a long time.

“If you are disappointed with that, you are hard to please.”

Supercars Australian Grand Prix schedule

Thursday, March 21

Practice 1: 1: M. Jones 2: M. Payne 3: C. Waters

Practice 2: 1 B. Feeney 2: C. Waters 3: A. De Pasquale

Qualifying R3 Qualifying R4 Poles B. Feeney, C. Waters

Race 3: 1: B. Feeney 2: W. Brown 3: M. Payne

Friday, March 22

Race 4 (20 laps): 1: W. Brown 2: M. Winterbottom 3: M. Payne

Saturday, March 23

Qualifying R5: 1: M. Payne 2: C. Waters 3: C. Mostert

Qualifying R6: 1: C. Mostert 2: M. Payne 3: C. Waters

Race 5 (14 laps): 17.35-18.10

Sunday, March 24

Race 6 (14 laps): 10.20-10.55

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