Domenicali hints at expanded F1 sprint calendar for next season
Domenicali points to bigger sprint programme
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has indicated that the championship could expand its sprint race schedule next season, with the alternative weekend format potentially appearing at more events than ever before.
The sprint concept was introduced in 2021 across three race weekends before growing to six events in 2023. F1 has continued to assess whether that number should rise again, and Domenicaliâs latest comments suggest the idea has moved beyond theory and into the calendar-planning phase.
According to Sky Sports, sprint races could be staged at nine or 10 events during next yearâs campaign. While the official calendar has not yet been published, Domenicali suggested an announcement is close and that a larger sprint footprint is likely to be part of it.
Friday action remains central to F1âs thinking
Speaking to the British broadcaster, Domenicali framed the potential expansion around the need to give fans meaningful track action throughout the race weekend, particularly on Fridays. His argument is clear: if spectators are turning up in large numbers, the sport has a responsibility to provide competitive content rather than a quieter opening day.
âIf you remember in the beginning, people were always sceptical of what weâre doing,â Domenicali said. âWe have the duty to be, in a way, brave and to think out of the box.â
That focus on entertainment has become an increasingly prominent theme in F1âs direction, echoing wider discussions around how the sport balances sporting structure with the spectacle expected by fans. For more on that broader entertainment debate, read our recent analysis on David Coulthard urging the FIA to keep entertainment central after the British GP safety car finish.
Calendar announcement expected soon
Domenicali used Silverstone as an example of why F1 believes Fridays must carry greater competitive weight. The presence of a large crowd, he argued, reinforces the need for sessions that deliver action rather than simply preparation.
âI think you see the effect. Friday, with the people that we had at Silverstone, if you donât give something that has to be an action, it would be wrong,â he said.
The F1 CEO then made his clearest hint yet that the next calendar will include an increased sprint allocation.
âTherefore, I think that this is the way to go, and we are on the process of announcing the bigger number for the future,â Domenicali said. âThis will come when we announce the calendar very, very soon.â
If confirmed, the move would mark another significant step in F1âs continued reshaping of the grand prix weekend format.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.