Mohammed Ben Sulayem opposes Sprint races while Stefano Domenicali plans a single format for all weekends

Mohammed Ben Sulayem opposes Sprint races while Stefano Domenicali plans a single format for all weekends. FIA President Ben Sulayem rejects Sprint races every weekend.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali

The debate over the structure of Formula 1 race weekends is far from over. In recent weeks, discussions have intensified about how the format could evolve in the coming years. After revealing the Sprint Race calendar for the 2026 season, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali appeared to step back from the idea of having two races every weekend and instead announced a different long-term plan.This topic continues to divide opinions between organizers and millions of fans worldwide. On one side, there are those who remain strongly attached to tradition. They oppose radical changes and emphasize the importance of the three free practice sessions, which allow teams and drivers to prepare in the best possible way. On the other, there are fans and stakeholders who push for a more spectacular approach to Formula 1, demanding more battles and wheel-to-wheel racing moments that only competitive sessions can deliver.Among this second group appears to be Stefano Domenicali himself, who on several occasions has put forward proposals that many considered unusual. Ideas such as running Sprint Races every weekend, removing free practice sessions altogether, or even introducing a reverse grid format have all been discussed. But these suggestions have met firm resistance from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who believes such changes would create major logistical challenges for the sport.

The former Ferrari team principal was very clear in his comments. “I have to say that, apart from some of the most hardcore and passionate fans, everyone wants Sprint weekends. Free practice sessions are only really appreciated by specialists. Those who want more action prefer a different format. With Sprints there is a lot more to discuss and comment on already from Friday,” Stefano Domenicali explained.

As for his vision for the future, Stefano Domenicali added: “The direction we will follow is clear. I can guarantee that in a few years we will make the request to have all weekends with the same unique format. It will not be all Sprint, we will not go as far as MotoGP, because that would be too big a step. It will be more of a maturation process that respects a traditionalist approach, so as not to distort the essence of the sport too much.”

The debate between tradition and innovation therefore remains at the heart of Formula 1’s future. While some argue that free practice sessions are fundamental for both teams and fans who enjoy technical insights, others believe the modern audience demands more action, with shorter and more intense racing formats. For now, the compromise seems to be a gradual process, with Stefano Domenicali aiming for a balanced evolution that will unify the format of all race weekends without removing F1’s traditional DNA.