Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said that a new Sprint Race format, reverse grids and even lessening or removing free practice sessions are all future possibilities.
The Italian has not been adverse to discussing potential radicalisations of the sport in the past, recently floating the idea of reverse grids for the Sprints, similar to Formula 2.
Domenicali, who has been F1’s supremo since 2021, has overseen a number of drastic changes in that time, including the introduction of Sprints in the first place.
The lengthening of the calendar has also been another notable alteration in F1’s make up, and these new potential measures are said to have been discussed with stakeholders and drivers already.
Speaking over the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, Domenicali appeared to be somewhat blase about the ideas, even suggesting there will be more and more Sprints as time goes on.
“There’s a topic on the table concerning the format we’ll use in the coming years, starting with Sprint weekends,” Domenicali told select media including Autosport.
“We need to understand whether to increase them, how to increase them, and whether to use different formats. We have several discussions to have with the teams to decide the direction.
“I have to say that aside from some older die-hard fans, everyone wants Sprint weekends. Promoters push for this format and now the drivers are interested as well.
“I’m being a bit provocative, but free practice appeals to super-specialists; people who want to see more action prefer a sprint weekend.
“There’s more to discuss and comment on from Friday – there’s a qualifying session – but I understand it has to become part of F1 culture.
“The direction is clear: I can guarantee that in a few years there will be demand to have all weekends with the same format.
“I’m not saying we’ll get to MotoGP, which has a sprint at every round – that’s too big a step. I see it more as a maturation process that respects a more traditionalist approach.”
Domenicali also said that the drivers have done an about-turn on this, alleging that the majority of the grid are in favour of more Sprints.
“As for the drivers, initially 18 were against the sprint and two in favour – today it’s the opposite.
“We discussed it at the dinner we organised in Austria and everyone spoke in favour.
“Even Max, with whom I spoke one-on-one, is starting to say it makes sense, so I see evolution from everyone. In the end, drivers are born to race.”
F1 fans are ‘tired of free practice,’ claims Domenicali
The possibility of culling free practice sessions is certainly a bold idea indeed.
Whilst offering somewhat less entertainment than the qualifying and the race, they are often a vital cornerstone of a weekend for drivers and teams to perfect strategy and gain sufficient mileage ahead of the true action.
For Domenicali, he is taking the view that the majority of people watching at home are the priority, and therefore keen to see perhaps more important on-track entertainment.
“Promoters and fans want action,” he said. “And now that they’ve started to understand it’s possible: our surveys show the vast majority of the audience wants the drivers to fight for a result.
“To put it bluntly, they’re tired of free practice. That’s an objective fact we can’t ignore.”
The idea of shortening Grands Prix is not necessarily an alien concept, as it has been discussed in the wider motorsport community that new generations will approve.
Within Formula E, where races are shorter – albeit primarily for energy-saving reasons – it has been accepted that its benefit is enabling fans’ attention span to be kept.
In F1, there can often be lull periods during a Grand Prix, giving Domenicali a potential inroad to seek race distances being reduced.
“We’re seeing on many of our channels that highlights do very well,” he said.
“For those of us who grew up with the current format, everything is fine as is, but there’s a large segment that only wants to see the key moments.
“Things are going very well today, but precisely for that reason we must not rest on our laurels. We need to think about the next step.”
F2 and Formula 3 has been noted for its reverse grid format, and with this idea already out in the ether, Domenicali reiterated that it remains a possibility for the Sprints.
Domenicali claims that some drivers have suggested it previously, and said that it will keep dialogue open with the FIA to ensure all avenues are open.
“It’s on our agenda,” he said. “We’ve discussed it before, but in the coming months we’ll need the courage to push the discussion again because I’ve heard several drivers propose it. At first everyone was against it, but at the last meeting many of them said, ‘Why don’t we try?’
“I don’t think there’s a single right or wrong stance here – every opinion has value. We’ll evaluate it with the FIA and interpret an evolving trend as best as possible, that’s for sure.”
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