Photo: Race Pictures

More sprints in F1? Drivers do not shy away from idea!

10:53, 23 Sep

Updated: 11:42, 23 Sep

byKada Sarkozi

F1 drivers are generally positive about Sprint weekends when asked about the prospect of having 12 of them on the calendar from 2027 onwards.

In terms of having entertainment, there’re definitely places where a sprint race could be good.

- Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton shaking hands with Verstappen after the Sprint in China - Photo: Race Pictures

Many drivers share positive feelings about the Sprints. "I personally like the sprint weekends. Many years back, I was complaining that we had the same structure every weekend," Lewis Hamilton began in Baku.

"We made something different. I think the sprints have been fun. We're not really sure what we have to do to make the sprint even better, but I think those race weekends are pretty intense with the less practice sessions, and fans tend to like it as well.

"In terms of having entertainment, there’re definitely places where a sprint race could be good," the seven-time world champion explained, who won his first Sprint this year in China.

Piastri says clear no to reverse grids

Championship leader Oscar Piastri underlined that reverse grids should not be introduced.

"I think adding more Sprints is not necessarily a bad idea. I don’t think we need or want it to be every weekend.

"It might sound obvious from where I’m sat, but [reverse grids] are a bad idea. I think also just from a purely sporting and competitive side of things… I think the last thing we want as a sport is things being decided — or critical results happening — because of reverse grid races and stuff like that.

"In Formula 1, there’s nothing more than winning the championship. In F2 and F3, you’re kind of showcasing yourself as to why you should get into F1, and I think that’s a way of showcasing certain things.

"And at the end of the day, the people that will put you in F1 know whether you’ve done a good job or not, regardless of the results. In Formula 1, you don’t have that next step. So, OK for more Sprints, but I don’t think reverse grids is a good idea," the Australian concluded.

Antonelli excited by the challenge

As a rookie, Sprints can be especially challenging, given that drivers have a single practice session beforehand.

Kimi Antonelli, who claimed his first pole position in Sprint Qualifying at the Miami GP, believes these weekends are exciting.

"As a driver it’s a challenge—one free practice and then straight into qualifying.

"The challenge is to get to the limit and understand how much you can push. In just one free practice you have to gather so much information—both for qualifying and for the race.

"Even though you have the Sprint afterwards, you still try to do some learning on that side as well. It’s quite intense, very challenging, and it’s good.

"They’re exciting. The weekend is very active you only have only one free practice and then either qualifying or Sprint, and then the main race.

"It’s good fun—I’ve been enjoying the Sprint weekends this year, so I wouldn’t mind having more of those in the future," the Italian said.

F1 announces Sprints for 2026

Currently, there are six Sprint weekends on the calendar. That will also be the same for the 2026 season, as the destinations have also been recently confirmed by F1.

Read also

Next year, Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore will host a Sprint.

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