F1 drivers split on plans to increase number of sprint weekends

Formula 1 is evaluating plans to increase the number of sprint weekends per season from six to 12, which has drawn a mixed reaction from drivers at the Bahrain test.

The series introduced sprint races to its weekend format in 2021, initially at just three rounds, before eventually doubling that number.

On Wednesday, however, following a meeting with the current F1 Commission, discussions were held about bringing the number of sprints up to 12 per season in the future.

The matter was put to the drivers on Thursday at the Bahrain test, with a split opinion offered.

Sprints must have value for there to be more of them

Williams driver Carlos Sainz wasn’t against the idea, but believes F1 must tweak the format for it to provide more value before adding more sprints to the schedule.

He was also wary about this leading to the number of sprints increasing to cover the entire calendar.

“I'm open-minded about it,” he began.

“I think the sprint format still needs to be fine-tuned and improved, given the fact that I think sometimes the sprint reveals too much of what's going to happen on Sunday.

“If we can improve that and make the sprint a bit different to what we see on Sunday, I would be open to having more sprint races.

“Unfortunately, that will mean quite a bit more workload for the driver with sprint qualifying and the Friday being busier, the Saturday being a lot busier.

“So I think FOM and F1 also need to adapt a bit their race weekend format with the amount of media and the amount of PR commitments that we have to give us also a bit of time to prepare for these races, because nowadays the last few years have been extremely demanding for the driver in that sense.

“So, no offence here at all, but you cannot imagine with the amount of sponsors F1 teams have nowadays, with the amount of interviews we do, the amount of marketing commitments we have.

“I think I'm open-minded to produce more timed sessions, more show on the track, but we need to fine-tune things away from the track because that 24 race calendar with, let's say, 24 sprints, imagine if we one day end up there, will be very demanding for everyone in the public.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is a fan of the sprint format, but believes the current six weekends should not be exceeded.

“I agree with everything that Carlos said, really.

“The only thing I'll add is that I actually really like the sprint weekends, but I still believe that it should be a minority of races and having it as a standardised weekend in the future, if that's the plan at any time, I don't think is the right thing.

“At least I wouldn't like it that way, but I'll drive anyway and adapt to it.

“But I think six is probably the sweet spot.”