The FIA have officially announced approved plans to increase the number of Formula 1 sprint races for the next season to six events from its current level of three.
In an electronic vote which took place on Tuesday (September 27th), the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) approved the “regulatory framework” needed to allow the extra sprint sessions to take place.
The number of sprint races in the next Formula 1 championship will therefore rise from its current level of three to six, which means that 25% of the record-breaking 24 Grands Prix on the 2023 F1 calendar will take place based on the sprint format.
The sport first tested the sprint race format last season, with the 2021 British Grand Prix being the first event to set the grid following a traditional qualifying session which was held on a Friday evening. The test continued with other such races being held in Italy and Brazil last season, while this Imola and the Red Bull Ring hosted sprint race weekend, with the last event scheduled to take place at Interlagos later in the year.
For now we do not have a confirmation of what races will take place based on the sprint format in 2023, as Formula One and the FIA will announce the events at a later date.
“The confirmation that six race weekends featuring Sprint will take place from the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season onwards is another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motorsport,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on the matter – “Sprint sessions provide an exciting dynamic to the race weekend format and have proven to be popular over the past two seasons – I am sure that this positive trend will continue and am pleased that the World Motor Sport Council has today given its approval for them to go ahead.” – he added.
For his part, Formula 1 chief executive officer and former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali pointed out why sprint race weekend have become so important for fans and drivers.
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“The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday – adding more drama and excitement to the weekend. The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future.” – the F1 CEO concluded.
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