Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (R) and Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr (L) compete in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on December 5, 2021. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
F1 have officially announced that there will be six Sprint races instead of three in the F1 calendar from next year
The formula 1 calendar will feature six Sprint events from 2023 onwards. The concept of Sprint races was introduced to F1 in 2021 and proved a popular addition to the usual weekend format. As a result, the qualifying sessions of GPs having spring races were shifted to Friday and an extra 100km race was slotted into Saturday’s schedule to set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
In an official statement, F1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said: “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 in 2021.” This season we have had sprint sessions at the Emilia Romagna and Austrian Grand Prix, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix set to host the final one. The FIA will confirm next year’s additions in due course.
There are mixed reactions to FIA’s decision of increasing the number of sprint races. Let us take a look at some of the responses.
“NO ONE WANTS THIS”, wrote a fan who clearly isn’t impressed.
“Ways to ruin a sport”, wrote another fan.
“Before you say that fans appreciate these sprint races or whatever you call them: no we don’t”, read another tweet.
“Do you guys not understand Quality over Quantity?”, tweeted another fan.
“The only positive point of Seb’s retirement is that I will not have to watch the downfall of this sport”, read another tweet, echoing similar sentiments.
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