Formula 1 will increase the number of sprint races held annually to six for the 2023 season, following approval from the World Motor Sport Council.
The sport introduced the ‘F1 Sprint’ in 2021 at three events, which saw a dramatic change to the traditional weekend format.
The usual knock-out qualifying session is held on a Friday, which then sets the starting grid for Saturday’s shorter race.
The result of the sprint event then sorts the grid for the main grand prix, which is still held on a Sunday.
Three sprint weekends returned for 2022 at Imola, Spielberg and Sao Paulo, while F1 also introduced a revised point-scoring format, benefitting the top eight rather than the top three, which was the case in 2021.
It means that there will now be even more points up for grabs in 2023, with six sprint races embedded into a record-breaking 24-race calendar.
“I am pleased that we can confirm six Sprints will be part of the Championship from 2023 onwards, building on the success of the new format introduced for the first time in 2021,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday, adding more drama and excitement to the weekend.
“The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future.”
F1 says the circuits that will host the revised weekend format will be announced “in due course”.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “The confirmation that six race weekends featuring Sprint will take place from the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season onwards is another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motorsport.
“Thanks to close collaboration with Stefano Domenicali and our colleagues at FOM, we concluded a thorough analysis on the impact of additional Sprint sessions and have adjusted relevant parameters of our work to ensure that they continue to be regulated at the very highest level.
“Sprint sessions provide an exciting dynamic to the race weekend format and have proven to be popular over the past two seasons – I am sure that this positive trend will continue and am pleased that the World Motor Sport Council has today given its approval for them to go ahead.”
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