The FIA announces a revamp of the sprint format for 2024
The fourth and final meeting of the Formula 1 Commission in 2023 took place this Wednesday, November 22, at the Yas Marina Circuit, ahead of the season-ending Formula 1 Grand Prix. Among the main topics of discussion was the format of Sprint events for 2024. The meeting was chaired by Nikolas Tombazis, FIA's Director of Single-Seater Racing, and Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
Formula 1 teams will be presented with plans for a revamp of the sprint format at the beginning of next year, following an agreement reached during a meeting on Thursday on the need for a change. During a meeting of the F1 Commission in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, it was agreed that a refresh of the format, potentially involving reverse grids or a complete overhaul of the weekend schedule, should be targeted.
In a first report following the meeting, the FIA announces a first step towards the revamp of the sprint format. The Commission has overall supported an update of the Sprint format for 2024 in order to further streamline the weekend by separating the sprint activities from those of the Grand Prix. The final schedule for the Sprint events in 2024 will be published in the upcoming weeks.
The Sports Advisory Committee will review the specific details, particularly regarding the timing and regulations of the Parc Fermé, in order to present a final proposal to the F1 Commission at the first meeting of 2024.
One idea would be to have the sprint qualifiers take place on Friday afternoon, while the qualifiers for the main Grand Prix would take place on Saturday morning before the afternoon sprint race. However, some are concerned that this format could lead to a risk of crashes in one of the sessions, which would have a significant impact on the rest of the weekend.
While many drivers have shared their opinions on the current sprint race format, a recurring subject suggesting that the sprint format does not provide as much entertainment as hoped, team principals and Grand Prix race directors have initiated discussions on adjustments for 2024.
The idea of a reverse grid is also being studied, especially if the sprint moves away from the championship points offer. This could involve either reversing the top 10 positions or the entire grid. It’s an idea that Sergio Perez supported after the São Paulo Grand Prix. « Not much happens during these races. I think a reverse grid would mix things up and create more opportunities, a lot more overtaking. If we want to keep this format, we should try something quite different, because in the past two years, this type of event hasn’t produced many good races. »
The FIA Sporting Advisory Committee will now work on the details of a restructuring of sprint races, which will be presented to the teams at the beginning of next year during the first F1 Commission meeting of 2024. In the coming weeks, Formula 1 will also settle in on the six sites that will host the sprints next year.
