Formula 1 plans to introduce the Sprint Race format at at one-third of the Grands Prix which will take place next season. The sport will officially conforms its race schedule for 2022 at the World Motor Sport Council meeting on October 15. The 2022 Formula One championship is set to feature a record 23 races.
In a recent interview for Sky Sports, Italian manager and the current CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali confirmed that the 2022 campaign will start in mid-March and finish in mid-November, which means that the final part of the championship will not clash with the start of football’s winter World Cup in Qatar.
The former Ferrari boss revealed some more details, explaining the sport plans to use the new Sprint Qualifying concept at many races next season. The format has been tested so far at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix and later at Monza in the Italian Grand Prix and has generated mixed feeling, ahead of the third and last test planned at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Sprint qualifying sees qualifying take place on Friday and set the grid for a shortened race, the winner of which is formally given pole position for the grand prix on Sunday.
Stefano Domenicali confirmed the plan is to continue with the format going forward: “We said at the beginning of the year there would be three tests this year to make sure we have the right plan for the future. The vast majority of the comments we received were super positive. Promoters are super happy because there is something new and important on Friday and Saturday and Sunday. We are receiving this positive feedback therefore we need to know next year we have a great plan where we will consider also the points highlighted by people who did not like this format. Generally speaking it has been an incredible success. I can say we will not go everywhere with the Sprint quali format. It is something we want to keep for one third of the races more or less and to connect with a certain different way of giving rewards and points and to connect with specific circuits that as you know would make the difference. So there is a lot of food for thought. We will involve all the stakeholders: broadcasters, drivers, teams, promoters and fans. We won’t forget our role is to take the right decision and to consider all the points and points of view of everyone.” – he said, in the interview for Sky Sports
Formula 1 recently announced the first Qatar Grand Prix will take place this season at the Losail Circuit in November, as Formula 1 and Qatar have also signed a 10-year contract starting from 2023 onwards to host a race at a venue yet to be confirmed.
This year will also feature the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while 2022 will also see the introduction of the Miami Grand Prix.
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