Max Verstappen – not a fan of the event – and Lando Norris at the front of the grid in this year's sprint race Grand Prix Brazil Photo: Getty Images/Dan Easten
Formula One has announced six races that will feature sprints next season, although the format for those weekends is still under discussion and the reverse grid is still on the table.
< p>China, Miami, Austria, Circuit of the Americas, Brazil and Qatar are the six races that will host the sprint weekend in 2024.
China and Miami will make their debut, replacing Azerbaijan and Spa from the sprint line this year. -up.
Now the only thing left to decide is the format. It is understood that sprint qualifying will almost certainly return on Friday, followed by the sprint on Saturday, as well as main Grand Prix qualifying.
But everything else, including the possibility of a reverse grid, is a question mark. is still up in the air.
Sprint events, shorter events held over a race weekend and offering several championship points, were introduced for the first time in 2021 in an attempt to liven up the weekend by effectively offering venues the opportunity to host three days of competitive running.< /p>
Formula 1 says it has been successful, with viewership numbers rising year on year, especially on Fridays, compared to regular free practice. But they remain controversial among fans and some drivers.
Three-time world champion Max Verstappen is an outspoken critic, even saying he would retire from the sport if Formula One strays too far from its DNA.
Max Verstappen has threatened to leave Formula 1 if the sport strays too far from its roots. Photo: Getty Images/Mohammed Zarandah
There were a few changes to the format this season, with a Friday qualifying session setting the grid for Sunday's main race, rather than a Saturday sprint as had previously been the case. There was then a separate “sprint day” on Saturday, with an abbreviated “shootout” on Saturday morning, followed by a sprint race in the afternoon.
However, following a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi last month, it was decided that the format needed further updating as it was not providing as much entertainment as desired.
Formula CEO 1 Stefano Domenicali said in a statement that the sprint's new hosts in China and Miami would be “a fantastic addition and will provide great racing for all our fans who will be racing and watching at home.”
He added: Since its inception in 2021, the sprint has consistently delivered increased viewership on television, more entertainment for fans at events and increased fan engagement on social and digital platforms, and we look forward to exciting developments in the coming year.
Meanwhile, it looks increasingly like Madrid will take the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona's expense as it is reported that a 10-year contract from 2026 has been agreed. Discussions have been ongoing for more than a year. The last time Madrid hosted a Formula 1 race was in 1981 at Jarama. The proposed race would be held on a semi-permanent track near Barajas Airport in the northeast of the city.
Sprints will remain, but a reverse grid could cause outrage
Although they remain controversial, it does not appear that Formula 1 is going to touch the subject of sprints. Not even Max Verstappen's warning via Telegraph Sport a couple of weeks ago that Formula One was at a “tipping point” in terms of putting entertainment before sport could dissuade stakeholders that it was a bad idea. Formula 1 owners point to an increase in television viewing figures, and also note that promoters are seeing an increase in sales, especially on Friday.
The only issue relates to the format: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner noted at the recent Abu Grand Prix -Dabi that at the moment “there is no pit stop, he tends to stay in grid order and in some ways it seems like he is getting a medal.” in the long term…”
It is understood discussions are still ongoing and a final proposal will be presented to the Formula 1 Commission in January. But it is all but decided that the sport will once again have sprint qualifying on Friday, followed by a sprint on Saturday, as well as a main qualifying session.
The rest of the weekend could be left unchanged, with the exception of changes to the park's indoor rules. As it stands, cars are placed under park-closed rules after the only free practice session on Friday morning, meaning teams are locked into their car settings and subject to strict restrictions on the elements they can change for the rest of the weekend.
More A radical move would be to flip part of the sprint grid, although this would likely cause outrage among certain fans.
“You need to do your research here. “added Horner in Abu Dhabi. “I think fan feedback will be key. What do they want? Do they like the sprint format as such or do they want to see more racing? If we're going to do this, how are we going to award points? How are we going to incentivize riders and teams?
Whatever decision is made, there is an understanding that the sport needs to stop making endless changes, not least so that they can get accurate annual data. . This also applies to the number of sprint races: the maximum in the short term remains six.
Recent Comments