FIA announces change in sprint format: Fewer sprint races, more points

On Monday, the FIA's Formula One Commission met in London for its first meeting of 2022. It was immediately a heavy-handed meeting, as a lot has been up in the air since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA have not yet made any definitive statements about that final race, but it has announced a number of other decisions.

On the events in Abu Dhabi, the organisation have stated the following: "Its feedback on the issues raised will be incorporated into the President's analysis, and he will publicly present the structural changes and action plan in the coming days."

The FIA have, however, announced changes to the sprint format. The plan was to organise six sprint weekends in 2022, but that number has been reduced to three. In addition, the distribution of points will be drastically changed: The winner of the sprint race will be awarded eight points, second place will be awarded seven points, and the points will run through down to eight place, who will be awarded one point.

The three Grands Prix with a sprint weekend will be: The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix. In addition, the name will be changed from "sprint qualification" to just "sprint."