Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali plans to discuss with teams and drivers the idea of more sprint races in the future – as well as a change of format to incorporate a reverse grid element.
While F1 looks set to stick with the current six sprint events for the start of the new rules era in 2026, thoughts are already moving towards expanding the schedule longer term.
And, amid what appears to be an increasing openness from both those within the paddock as well as fans to try out some more radical ideas, the idea of reverse grids looks set to also be put forward as something to be seriously considered.
In an exclusive podcast interview with The Race to discuss the future of F1 and answer questions on the topic from The Race Members' Club, Domenicali said that with sprint races now an accepted part of grand prix racing – with more and more promoters wanting them – talks were going to be lined up to evaluate next steps.
"I do believe there are possibilities to extend two things, which we need to discuss, both with the drivers and the teams, and, of course, with the FIA," said Domenicali about the future of sprint races.
"There are: can we apply that [sprint schedules] with more races? And is this the right formula to have the possibility to have a reverse grid, as we are doing with F2 and F3? These are points of discussion.
"I think that we are getting there to be mature to make sure that this point will be tackled seriously with the teams.
"The vibes to progress in this direction are definitely growing, and therefore I'm ready to present and to discuss not only more sprints…but if there are new formats, new ideas."
Open to experiments
Where once F1 teams, drivers and the majority of fans would have been against any suggestion of a reverse grid format, Domenicali believes that resistance has now softened.
And as well as feedback from teams and drivers indicating there is now a mindset to try different things, so too fans seemingly want more from the sprints to differentiate them from the main grand prix.
A poll in The Race's YouTube community asking what the future of sprints should be showed many (44%) did not want them at all.
However, of those that were in favour of keeping the sprints but wanting changes to them, the idea of reverse grids earned overwhelming support – well ahead of a sprint championship or a rookies race.
Domenicali is clear that he is more than willing to try new ideas such as reverse grids out.
"We are open for that, because I think that's the right thing - to listen to our fans, to try to create something, and not to be worried to do mistakes," he explained. "The one who believes to do no mistakes doesn't do anything new."
What Domenicali said will not happen, however, is for F1 to "go back to a normal racing weekend" without sprints – especially with demand high from promoters to host them.
"I think that the sprint, whatever will be the right format, we need to have it. It will represent the future," he said.
While MotoGP has taken the bold step of having sprint races at all of its weekends, Domenicali thinks that F1 will not get to that point in a hurry.
"I'm not saying no, but I think that, between six and 24, we have to do steps into the middle," he said.
Calendar size
While Domenicali is eyeing an increase in the number of sprint races, he has stood firm in his belief that F1 is on the right trajectory at the moment with the total number of grands prix.
With our YouTube poll showing 44% of respondents would prefer a 19-21 race calendar, Domenicali put himself into the same category as 25% of fans who think 22-24 is the ideal number.
"Today, the number of partners that not only we have, but also the teams have, means that the platform is valuable," he said.
"When I say valuable, I go back to the point [that it] is right in terms of the commercial offer. If it wouldn't be right, it wouldn't be so popular.
"So that's why I do believe that I can write myself in the 25% of your poll because that is the right number that is sustainable from the commercial and also from this point in perspective.
"Don't forget one thing which is relevant I believe. We are in a world where content is very important to be attractive or relevant.
"We have only 24 races. Football has 70 games. Baseball, 165 games, every day on TV. So to generate content to be attractive with only, I would say, 24 races, is a massive task."
