One of the most talked-about changes to Formula 1 in recent years is the introduction of Sprint Races to certain weekends.
The 2021 British Grand Prix was the first race to feature the Sprint format, but it looked very different to the layout of the weekends this season.
Four years ago, traditional qualifying took place on Friday afternoon, setting the grid for Saturday’s Sprint qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton took the first Sprint pole position for Mercedes, and Sprint qualifying constituted a 17-lap race, with the result deciding the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen is the king of Sprint Races since their introduction, and he claimed pole position for the Grand Prix by overtaking Hamilton.
Sunday’s race witnessed Verstappen’s huge crash after contact with Hamilton, with the British driver eventually taking victory.
Very happy with the Sprint win today 🙌 Thank you to the home crowd! Unfortunately a tricky qualifying, but anything can happen in the race 💪 pic.twitter.com/5asjcofHh0
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 26, 2025
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The Sprint format changed in 2023, with a separate qualifying event introduced for the Sprint Race, but the current layout of a weekend was only put into place last year, when both Sprint sessions were completed before qualifying for the actual race.
This appears to be the most logical format, with the flow of a weekend feeling much more natural.
However, Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali is already thinking of ways to try and improve Sprint Races going forward, and is ready to ‘discuss’ these changes with the teams.
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Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty ImagesStefano Domenicali ‘ready to present’ two Sprint Race format changes to Formula 1 teams
Domenicali was asked on The Race F1 Podcast about what changes he would make to the Sprint Race format to make it a ‘truly must-watch’ part of a race weekend.
He responded: “To have something to fight for on the track that could be seen as relevant for people, for the media to talk about and not to arrive on Friday to do some laps where people who are new and attracted by something that is incredible, but don’t understand what is happening.
“So, the principle was, I do believe, totally correct. And I do believe that if you have some statistics on it, but that point has been cleared.
“Then, if you think what the first step [is], not the format, but the evolution of the session was different to what we have today.
Format of a Sprint Race weekend 2024-
“I think that today, in terms of the evolution of the sessions, it is right, then, on top of that, I do believe there are possibilities to extend two things which we need to discuss both with the drivers and the teams, and of course, with the FIA.
“Can we apply [the Sprint Race format] to more races? Is this the right formula with the possibility of having a reverse grid, as we are doing with Formula 2 and Formula 3? These are points of discussion.
“And I think we are getting there for this to be taken seriously with the teams. The vibes to progress in this direction are definitely growing.
“I’m ready to present and discuss, not only more Sprint [Races] because this is what I see as a request from the promoter who wants to have it, not because they want to change the number of Saturdays and Sundays, but it will change the number of Fridays.”
Domenicali went on to say that he’s open to talking about new formats suggested by the fans as well, but the emphasis is on F1 trying to add more competitive action to the calendar, without increasing the number of race weekends.
READ MORE: Peter Windsor tells F1 not to implement ‘ludicrous’ format change in the future
Max Verstappen leads the way in Formula 1 Sprint Races after their 2021 introduction
Verstappen produced an ‘incredible’ win over Oscar Piastri at the latest Sprint Race in Belgium to add another victory to his tally.
Since the format’s introduction, the Dutchman has won 12 Sprint Races, more than every other driver combined.
Piastri, Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas have two wins each, while Hamilton, George Russell and Sergio Perez have a victory each.
Formula 1 Sprint Race winners (accurate as of 2025 Belgian Grand Prix)
McLaren will fancy their chances of winning the final three Sprint Races this year, but that still would mean every other driver in F1 history combined could only match the 27-year-old’s tally.
Interestingly, Charles Leclerc has the second-most points in Sprint Race history (76) despite never winning a race in this format.
However, if Domenicali gets his way and there are more Sprint Races, that might change quickly, while a reverse grid would potentially slow down his efforts.