Stefano Domenicali makes a HUGE revelation about the 2024 sprint race weekends
Formula 1 will not increase the number of sprint races for the 2024 season.
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Stefano Domenicali (Credits: Motorsport.com)
Formula 1 has released its schedule for the 2024 season with a record of 24 races. The calendar is similar to the 2023 season, as there are no new races, and the Chinese Grand Prix is set to return for the first time since the pandemic. Another similarity between the two calendars is the number of sprint races. F1 hosts six sprint weekends in 2023, which is double the time from the 2022 season.
In 2024, the six sprint races will remain on the calendar, and the sport will not increase the number of sprint races. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali claims this is to respect old fans. F1 has received backlash since they announced six sprints and the new sprint format in 2023. Fans want the traditional sprint format, as they dislike the new one that includes the qualifying session on Friday, Sprint Shootout, the Sprint race on Saturday, and the feature race on Sunday.
Stefano Domenicali stated, “There is no big news on the ‘format’ front, we want to stabilize the six weekends with the sprint race and respect the habits of long-standing enthusiasts.” He refers to the fans who have been watching Formula 1 for years in the traditional format. The changes to the races were introduced recently. Domenicali wants to please both the old and new fans, as the aim of the sprint weekends and the new format is to bring more entertainment for the fans. It is safe to say he wants to find a balance.
F1 has not announced where the 2024 sprint races will be held
Previously, there was a rumor that F1 wanted to host ten sprint race weekends in 2024. However, the governing body did not increase it. While some drivers welcomed the sprint format, others like the double-world champion Max Verstappen, are not fond of it. After the sprint weekend in Baku, the Red Bull driver said, “Scrap the whole thing.”
He claimed it is not in the DNA of the sport, “I don’t find that it’s the DNA of F1 to do this kind of Sprint races. F1 is about getting the most out of it in qualifying and then having an amazing Sunday.” Many fans agree with him. Hence, it makes sense why Domenicali and F1 have not added more sprint races to the 2024 calendar.
Though the 2024 F1 calendar was released, they haven’t announced where the sprint races will be held. Stefano Domenicali revealed that they will announce it in September. They have another F1 commission meeting scheduled during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. So hopefully, they will confirm the details and share them soon.
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)