Formula 1 urged to introduce Sprint races at all 24 Grands Prix

Formula 1 first introduced Sprint races in 2021 as a trial at three events: the British, Italian and São Paulo Grands Prix. Under the original format, Friday qualifying set the grid for Saturday's Sprint, with the result of the 100 km race then determining the starting order for Sunday's Grand Prix. Only the top three finishers scored points.

Since then, the Sprint format has been revised on multiple occasions before reaching its current structure. The championship now features six Sprint weekends per season, with the Sprint becoming a standalone points-paying race and the top eight finishers receiving championship points.

Speaking to The Race, Briatore argued that Formula 1 should introduce Sprint races at every Grand Prix weekend. He believes the current Friday schedule offers too little entertainment for fans, as practice sessions are largely focused on technical work rather than competitive running. Briatore also suggested that a Sprint gives spectators an extra race to enjoy while ensuring drivers are competing for meaningful results instead of simply gathering data for their engineers. As a result, he said the ideal format would be to have 24 Sprint races across the 24-round calendar.

Briatore's proposal comes just days after F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali defended the 2026 regulations, arguing that many of the technical concerns raised by dedicated fans do not reflect the interests of the wider audience. Referring to a recent conversation with Star Wars creator George Lucas, Domenicali explained that newer fans are primarily drawn to the action on track and the quality of the racing rather than the technical complexity behind how the cars are driven, reinforcing Formula 1's growing focus on delivering a more entertaining spectacle.

He suggested that Formula 1 should continue making the sport easier to follow for a broader audience without losing its competitive appeal. He also pointed to Max Verstappen's overtake on Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1 in Hungary as an example of the type of moment that resonates with most viewers.

He argued that fans appreciate the skill required to produce spectacular moves, regardless of whether they understand the precise role played by throttle inputs, brake pressure or electrical deployment. While acknowledging that detailed technical data remains important for a smaller group of enthusiasts and will continue to be available, he maintained that the vast majority of Formula 1 fans simply want to watch exciting racing and exceptional driving.