F1 President Plans to Propose New Race Weekend Format
Formula 1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali has announced plans to revamp the race weekend format. Domenicali stated in a conference that he intends to propose a major revision to the format of the race weekend, more specifically Sprint races. This could include reverse grids, shorter MotoGP-style Sprints and possibly Grand Prix, and a larger portion of the calendar dedicated to short-format events.
Domenicali has informed the media of his desire to introduce “new formats, new ideas” to teams and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), highlighting both an increase in the number of Sprints and the potential for reversing grid orders, a concept already employed in F2 and F3, as topics for discussion. He hinted that F1 might expand beyond the current six Sprint events without holding a sprint at every round.
The proposals aim to enhance weekend entertainment and attract the attention of younger audiences by focusing the season’s key moments into shorter, more intense races.
“Promoters and fans want action… and now that they’ve started to understand it’s possible: our surveys show the vast majority of the audience wants the drivers to fight for a result. To put it bluntly, they’re tired of free practice. That’s an objective fact we can’t ignore,” Domenicali told PlanetF1 media.
Not everyone in the paddock is convinced. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem cautioned that increasing Sprints presents practical challenges, notably the additional workload for officials and logistical pressures on team travel concerns he described as crucial to any decision on raising Sprint numbers. Drivers have also shown mixed reactions, with some worried about losing strategic depth while others are open to experimentation.
Teams and commercial partners are likely to support any format that enhances fan engagement and broadcast value, but reverse grids and randomized starting orders touch on fundamental sporting principles and could change how championships are contested. Critics argue such changes risk making results more artificial, while supporters claim that new formats could rejuvenate interest and create unpredictable weekends.
F1 officials state that any changes would be gradual and discussed with stakeholders, including the FIA and the Drivers’ Association, and that the sport will test ideas before committing to a permanent overhaul. With commercial pressures increasing and audiences fragmenting, the debate over the race weekend evolution promises to reshape the calendar—and potentially, the sport itself.
A formal proposal is expected before next year’s strategy meetings.
