A week after unveiling the 24-race calendar for 2023, Formula 1 has revealed that there would be six Sprint events next season. This is double of what of the Sprint events this season and the last. After last year’s three events, there were plans to increase the number of Sprint events this year to six, but it was strongly opposed by the teams due to the cost. But now, all teams are in agreement for six Sprint events next year.
The agreement had been reached some months ago, but it had to wait for approval from the FIA president, Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who had said that there was a need to assess the impact of the Sprint events on the staff. It was thought that the assessment would be concluded just in time with the announcement of the 2023 calendar, but it could be done in time.
Speaking on Tuesday after the FIA’s World Council voted to accept the increase, Sulayem said: “The confirmation that six race weekends featuring Sprint will take place from the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season onwards is another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motorsport.”
The Sprint event is a racing format that was introduced in the 2021 season. It is a race shorter than Sunday’s Grand Prix but also awards points. The result from the Sprint, which takes place on a Saturday, is used to set the Grid for Sunday’s race.
Since their debut, Sprint events have been quite popular and are something F1 fans are very interested in. But that extra race also has an impact on the cars, which is why teams voted against additional Sprint events in 2022.
For now, there have been no venues for where the six Sprint events would take place, but they would hold in any of the 24 venues where the Grands Prix for next year would take place.
Leon Osamor
A week after unveiling the 24-race calendar for 2023, Formula 1 has revealed that there would be six Sprint events next season. This is double of what of the Sprint events this season and the last. After last year’s three events, there were plans to increase the number of Sprint events this year to six, but it was strongly opposed by the teams due to the cost. But now, all teams are in agreement for six Sprint events next year.
The agreement had been reached some months ago, but it had to wait for approval from the FIA president, Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who had said that there was a need to assess the impact of the Sprint events on the staff. It was thought that the assessment would be concluded just in time with the announcement of the 2023 calendar, but it could be done in time.
Speaking on Tuesday after the FIA’s World Council voted to accept the increase, Sulayem said: “The confirmation that six race weekends featuring Sprint will take place from the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season onwards is another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motorsport.”
The Sprint event is a racing format that was introduced in the 2021 season. It is a race shorter than Sunday’s Grand Prix but also awards points. The result from the Sprint, which takes place on a Saturday, is used to set the Grid for Sunday’s race.
Since their debut, Sprint events have been quite popular and are something F1 fans are very interested in. But that extra race also has an impact on the cars, which is why teams voted against additional Sprint events in 2022.
For now, there have been no venues for where the six Sprint events would take place, but they would hold in any of the 24 venues where the Grands Prix for next year would take place.
Leon Osamor
