Revolution in Formula 1: the number of sprint races is doubled
Created: 09/29/2022, 13:08
By: Lena Hempler
So it's official: The FIA has finally agreed that next season there will be sprints in six of the 24 Formula 1 races on Saturday.
Singapore – The race calendar for the 2023 Formula 1 season was only recently announced, now the next announcement is coming!
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali had already explained how he would like to make the races even more exciting for spectators in the coming seasons.
He spoke in particular of more sprint races, although there has always been a lot of criticism for them in the past.
Already at the beginning of the season, the Formula 1 teams and the owner of the sport, Liberty Media, had spoken out in favor of expanding the sprint races in the coming season.
However, the FIA delayed this step because they first wanted additional money for it and then demanded less work.
But a special vote by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council has finally approved the sprint racing plans.
Formula 1: Sprint races will be doubled next season
This season there are already three sprint races in Imola, Spielberg and São Paulo, and six sprints are now planned for the 2023 Formula 1 season!
The venues are not yet known, but it is certain that routes that are easier to overtake are particularly suitable.
Stefano Domenicali thinks more sprint races are great, after all he was in favor of driving six of them this season.
Domenicali goes on to explain why he loves the sprint races: “The sprint features three days of action, with riders battling it out from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday - adding drama and excitement to the weekend.
The feedback from fans, teams, organizers and partners was very positive.
The format adds a new dimension to Formula 1 and we all want to ensure its success in the future."
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Formula 1: ratings for sprint races at the level of race Sundays
Even if the Formula 1 CEO and FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem are positive about the sprints of the coming season, motorsport fan camps are very divided.
On Instagram, a user writes: "Give us something that nobody wanted", another is not quite so averse: "Interesting, I wonder which tracks - Japan would be good.
Imola...Nope.” At least there was something good about the sprint races last season: the audience ratings on the sprint Saturdays were almost at the level of the race Sundays!
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