{"id":337630,"date":"2025-08-12T05:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T05:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/337630\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T05:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T05:24:13","slug":"stefano-domenicali-now-ready-to-discuss-two-key-changes-to-formula-1-sprint-races-with-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/337630\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefano Domenicali now ready to \u2018discuss\u2019 two key changes to Formula 1 Sprint Races with teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the most talked-about changes to Formula 1 in recent years is the introduction of Sprint Races to certain weekends.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2021 British Grand Prix<\/a> was the first race to feature the Sprint format, but it looked very different to the layout of the weekends this season.<\/p>\n

Four years ago, traditional qualifying took place on Friday afternoon, setting the grid for Saturday\u2019s Sprint qualifying.<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton<\/a> took the first Sprint pole position for Mercedes, and Sprint qualifying constituted a 17-lap race, with the result deciding the grid for Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen<\/a> is the king of Sprint Races since their introduction, and he claimed pole position for the Grand Prix by overtaking Hamilton.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s race witnessed Verstappen\u2019s huge crash after contact with Hamilton<\/a>, with the British driver eventually taking victory.<\/p>\n

\n

Very happy with the Sprint win today \ud83d\ude4c Thank you to the home crowd! Unfortunately a tricky qualifying, but anything can happen in the race \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/5asjcofHh0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

This appears to be the most logical format, with the flow of a weekend feeling much more natural.<\/p>\n

However, Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali<\/a> is already thinking of ways to try and improve Sprint Races going forward, and is ready to \u2018discuss\u2019 these changes with the teams.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/strong>: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali makes \u2018very strong\u2019 Lewis Hamilton prediction amid Ferrari 2025 struggles<\/a><\/p>\n

\"MaxPhoto by SIMON WOHLFAHRT\/AFP via Getty ImagesStefano Domenicali \u2018ready to present\u2019 two Sprint Race format changes to Formula 1 teams<\/p>\n

Domenicali was asked on The Race F1 Podcast about what changes he would make to the Sprint Race format to make it a \u2018truly must-watch\u2019 part of a race weekend.<\/p>\n

He responded: \u201cTo 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\u2019t understand what is happening.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, if you think what the first step [is], not the format, but the evolution of the session was different to what we have today.<\/p>\n\nFriday AM<\/td>\nFree Practice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nFriday PM<\/td>\nSprint qualifying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSaturday AM<\/td>\nSprint Race<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSaturday PM<\/td>\nQualifying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSunday<\/td>\nGrand Prix<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Format of a Sprint Race weekend 2024-<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Domenicali went on to say that he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/strong>: Peter Windsor tells F1 not to implement \u2018ludicrous\u2019 format change in the future<\/a><\/p>\n

Max Verstappen leads the way in Formula 1 Sprint Races after their 2021 introduction<\/p>\n

Verstappen produced an \u2018incredible\u2019 win over Oscar Piastri<\/a> at the latest Sprint Race in Belgium to add another victory to his tally.<\/p>\n

Since the format\u2019s introduction, the Dutchman has won 12 Sprint Races, more than every other driver combined.<\/p>\n

Piastri, Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas have two wins each, while Hamilton, George Russell and Sergio Perez have a victory each.<\/p>\n\nDRIVER<\/strong><\/td>\nWINS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMax Verstappen<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nValtteri Bottas<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nOscar Piastri<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLando Norris<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGeorge Russell<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSergio Perez<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLewis Hamilton<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Formula 1 Sprint Race winners (accurate as of 2025 Belgian Grand Prix)<\/p>\n

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\u2019s tally.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Charles Leclerc has the second-most points in Sprint Race history (76) despite never winning a race in this format.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n