Formula 1 is exploring plans to double the number of sprint weekends per season. That news provoked mixed reactions from the drivers during winter testing in Bahrain. Since the sprint format’s introduction in 2021 — back then with three weekends — the sprint calendar has expanded to six editions per year. After a recent meeting of the F1 Commission, a further doubling is now on the table.
Carlos Sainz is open to more sprint races, but he has clear reservations about the current setup. “I think the sprint format still needs to be refined and improved, because the sprint sometimes reveals too much about what will happen on Sunday,” he told reporters in Bahrain. “If we can fix that and make the sprint something different to the Sunday race, I would be open to more.”
Less focus on off-track commitments
“Unfortunately, that does mean a lot more work for the drivers, with a more packed qualifying for the sprint races and busier Friday and Saturday,” the Williams driver added. “So I think the race format needs to be adjusted too, given the amount of media attention and PR obligations we have. We need a proper preparation for a race, but the off-track stuff has been really draining for the drivers in recent years. It’s all well meant, but you can hardly imagine how many sponsors an F1 team carries these days and how many interviews and marketing commitments come with that. I’m open to more spectacle on track, but we need to pare back the off-track commitments.”
There is also understanding for the format at Ferrari, though not everyone is eager for further expansion. Charles Leclerc sided with his former team-mate. “I completely agree with what Carlos said,” he replied. “The only thing I want to add is that I actually really enjoy the sprint weekends, but I still believe they should be a minority of the races. If in the future they become a standard weekend — should that ever be the plan — then I don’t think that’s the right approach. I certainly wouldn’t be comfortable with that, although I would of course adapt immediately. Personally, I think six is just a nice number.”
