The FIA blocks the expansion of the six-race sprint for 2023
At the end of the meeting that brought together the teams, the FOM and the FIA in London, the International Federation decided to block the expansion of the six-race sprint in 2023 for financial reasons. Even though it supports the idea of more sprints, the FIA is not satisfied with the current proposed conditions.
After the Commission held in London between the stables, the FOM and the FIA, the International Federation released a press release to summarize the meeting. Several topics were discussed, including the extension of the sprint format to six weekends in 2023.
This topic, discussed at the initiative of Liberty Media, the group that owns F1, did not receive the majority of votes. In order to be accepted, a proposal must obtain 25 votes out of 30 from the teams (10 votes), the FOM (10 votes), and the FIA (10 votes). While the teams and the FOM were unanimously in favor of the expansion of the sprint format, the FIA blocked the adoption of the project.
Even though she is in favor of the project, the federation presided over by Mohammed Ben Sulayem was not satisfied with the proposed conditions as they were. According to a source reported by Autosport, the Emirati president of the FIA would only be willing to proceed with negotiations in exchange for a financial contribution from the circuits wanting to host the sprints for the Federation.
Despite the FIA’s blockade, the project is not abandoned as reminded by the international federation in a press release. While supporting the principle of an increased number of sprint events, the FIA is still assessing the impact of this proposal on its operations and track personnel, and will provide its comments to the Commission, detailed the FIA.
