Grand Prix weekend format needs major overhaul: 'More intensity'

The Formula 1 organisation is very pleased with the format of sprint races. It gives a race weekend a different dynamic and there is more competition. For the drivers, teams and fans, that is great.

F1 would like to increase the number of sprint races. If it is up to F1 boss Stefano Domenicali, it will not stop at this change in the format of a race weekend.

The Italian wants every session outside the first free practice during a Grand Prix weekend to count and to add intensity. He said this in conversation with The Race, among others. "I think from a fan perspective, [ensuring that] every day there is something to fight for on track is very important. Free practice is very interesting for the engineers or for the drivers. But at the end of the day, in sport, you need to fight for something."

Points would be earned every time the drivers took to the track - outside of Free Practice 1. According to Domenicali, Formula 1 is looking into what way this could be done. He plans to consult with the FIA, the teams and the drivers.

In any case, a first step towards more action is more sprint races. Domenicali confirms that by 2023 there should be six. On which circuits they will be held is still unknown.