Formula 1 announced that an increase in sprint races from three in 2022 to six in 2023 after reaching an agreement with the sport’s governing body, the FIA.

The FIA and Formula 1 did not see eye to eye on the subject of increasing the Sprint Races, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem taking his time before approving the changes.

F1 had three Sprint Races in 2022, at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix – both contested –  and the final one will be at the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

However, it was announced today that the 2023 F1 season will feature six Sprint Races, without specifying which weekends will be hosting them.

Formula 1 Statement

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has today approved an increase in the number of events featuring
Sprint sessions in the FIA Formula One World Championship from three to six from the 2023 season
onwards.

Sprint sessions, which were first introduced in 2021, have been a popular update to the Formula 1
weekend format across a selection of carefully chosen events, providing fans with the additional
excitement of the Qualifying session taking place on Friday, and a Sprint on Saturday to set the grid for
Sunday’s Grand Prix.

With the regulatory framework now in place to allow for the additional Sprint sessions, confirmation of the
specific events at which they will take place will follow in due course.

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “I am pleased that we can confirm six Sprints will be part of the Championship from 2023 onwards, building on the success of the new format introduced for the first time in 2021.

“The Sprint provides action across three days with the drivers all fighting for something right from the start on Friday through to the main event on Sunday, adding more drama and excitement to the weekend.

“The feedback from the fans, teams, promoters, and partners has been very positive and the format is adding a new dimension to Formula 1, and we all want to ensure its success in the future,” he added.

FIA President Mohammed Ben 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 motor sport.

“Thanks to close collaboration with Stefano Domenicali and our colleagues at FOM, we concluded a thorough analysis on the impact of additional Sprint sessions and have adjusted relevant parameters of our work to ensure that they continue to be regulated at the very highest level.

“Sprint sessions provide an exciting dynamic to the race weekend format and have proven to be popular
over the past two seasons – I am sure that this positive trend will continue and am pleased that the World
Motor Sport Council has today given its approval for them to go ahead,” Ben Sulayem explained.

The Kansas City Chiefs are 2019 NFC Champs - get your gear on at Fanatics

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR