Ross Brawn: Reverse grids in F1 would be fascinating but also divisive

With that, the former Ferrari and Mercedes team boss sees sprint qualifying as a good compromise in terms of an extra 'race' format for Formula 1, and he was a key architect in bringing the format to the sport in his role of managing director of motorsports.

Brawn announced his retirement at the end of the season and will bring to an end his long association with Formula 1, and the idea of a reverse grid race has long been debated in the sport, though it has not come to fruition.

With the sport's owners, Liberty Media, looking to spice up the action over the course of race weekends, sprints became the chosen way forward - and will double from three to six events next season.

In that, Brawn thinks Formula 1 has a good solution, and while he thinks a reverse grid element would be good to watch, he knows a part of the sport's fanbase would not get on board - and the sport needs to be cautious about the idea of implementing them.

"There's always this debate about reverse grids," Brawn told Motorsport.com. "Reverse grids would be pretty entertaining. I think most of us would love to see what would happen.

"But there is an element of our fans who think that's getting too synthetic, too World Wrestling sort of thing, and that you should reward the best guys and so on. I get that as well and I think we've got to be very cautious on that side of things.

"You have a sprint race [now]. And, for me, a sprint race can only add because it's a competition, it's a contest, best guy wins, smartest guy wins - it's a meritocracy. It's just an additional demonstration of the drivers' talents during a race weekend. I think the sprint is great.

"I can't see why anyone would really have a problem with that. That should, if they've got an open mind, appeal to all our fans. I can see why a reverse grid could be divisive and could unsettle some of our fans and that's something we've got to [keep in mind]."