Flavio Briatore believes Formula 1 should host a Sprint race at every Grand Prix to give \u201csomething more\u201d to the spectators.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 introduced Sprint races in 2021, with Silverstone hosting the inaugural event in a championship that included three Sprint weekends.<\/p>\n
Flavio Briatore wants Sprint races at every Formula 1 Grand Prix<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n While some drivers and fans welcomed it, others felt it went against the grain of what a traditional F1 weekend is.<\/p>\n Sprint races are 100km races held on Saturdays, with a Friday qualifying session setting the grid for the short race. The top eight score points, from eight down to one.<\/p>\n As Formula 1 adjusted to the new format, the number of Sprints increased from three to six in 2023.<\/p>\n Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says there is a growing desire for Sprint events, not only amongst fans but also race organisers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to understand whether to increase them, how to increase them, and whether to use different formats,\u201d said the Italian. \u201cWe have several discussions to have with the teams to decide the direction.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to say that aside from some older die-hard fans, everyone wants Sprint weekends. Promoters push for this format, and now the drivers are interested as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Alpine\u2019s de facto team principal Briatore says he is in favour of more Sprints. <\/p>\n In fact, he\u2019d like every race weekend to feature a Sprint.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe we need to do the Sprint races,\u201d he explained to Darren Cox in The Race Business\u2019s \u2018In Conversation With\u2026\u2019 series.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it was me, every race, because we need to give something more to the spectator.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do nothing for the spectator, because Friday morning is only technical. You got two laps, you come back, and people are not here.<\/p>\n \u201cSaturday in the morning, after you have the qualifying and that\u2019s finito, you have the race.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the Sprint race, at least you have two races, two starters, and the driver is driving for something. He\u2019s not driving only for the engineering. <\/p>\n \u201cFor me, 24 races, 24 sprint races.\u201d<\/p>\n F1 2026: The season\u2019s winners and losers<\/p>\n The results of the F1 2026 championship <\/a><\/p>\n The F1 2026 Drivers\u2019 and Constructors\u2019 Championship standings<\/a><\/p>\n At present, a non-Sprint Grand Prix weekend includes three practice sessions, qualifying and the Grand Prix. <\/p>\n A Sprint weekend is just one practice and Sprint qualifying on Friday, followed by the Sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday.<\/p>\n The Sprint format not only creates interest over three days but also opens the door for a potential shock as teams and drivers have just one single practice in which to find the perfect set-up for the rest of the weekend.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n