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Controversial Saturday race sets the field for Sunday’s Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Formula 1’s Sprint format is likely to be featured at six Grands Prix in 2023 after teams agreed to an expansion of the system. The agreement was announced by the F1 Commission on Tuesday.
Sprint debuted in 2021 at three events and it was kept at that number for 2022, with last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix its first appearance of the season.
There had been a proposal for Sprint to be featured on six weekends this year, but those plans were nixed after an agreement could not be reached over financial considerations. Several teams wanted the F1 budget cap increased to help with the added cost to teams and possibility of damage to cars from what amounts to an added race to the race weekend.
Teams have now agreed that Formula 1 should hold six Sprints in 2023, following a meeting of the F1 Commission in London on Tuesday. It was outlined that Sprint would run in the same format as in 2022.
Since its introduction qualifying has been held on Friday, ahead of a one-third distance race on Saturday which sets the grid for Sunday’s event.
The points system was expanded from 2021 to 2022 to reward the top eight finishers, as opposed to just the top three, in the only major year-on-year change. Championship points are awarded 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to the top eight finishers in Sprint.
The FIA outlined that while it supports the extension of Sprint to six events in principle it ‘is still evaluating the impact of this proposal on its trackside operations and personnel, and will provide its feedback to the Commission.’
Formula 1 needs the FIA’s approval before the expansion is rubber-stamped.
