“Are not too greedy”: Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali explains why the championship could increase the number of races in the coming years
How many races does the Formula 1 calendar need? This question has always been the subject of intense debate. However, Formula 1 Managing Director Stefano Domenicali has found an answer for himself: “We want to keep it at 24 Grands Prix,” he says in an interview with auto motor und sport
He does not want to hear any criticism of this record number. It is “wrong” to claim “that 24 is too many”, says Domenicali. “When the sport is as good as it is at the moment with many possible winners, the fans count the days until the next race.”
Because the current Formula 1 offers “distances like a 100-meter race”, the series boss continued. That’s why 24 Grands Prix is a “good number” and “everyone involved in our sport should be happy with the situation”.
However, this does not mean that Formula 1 only has 24 races per season. For some years now, the championship has also organized a number of sprint races: Initially there were three per year, now there are six. And soon there could be even more, as Domenicali hints.
When asked specifically whether he wanted to establish more sprint races in the future, the former Ferrari team boss replied: “That is the goal. The figures show that there is interest in it.” However, Domenicali does not say what these figures are
Formula 1 itself recently published data on sprint races for the 2023 season, however, which shows a clear trend: Race weekends with sprints saw at least a slight increase in total audience compared to 2022. And Domenicali sees further “growth opportunities” here and wants to “invest”. This is only “normal”, says the Formula 1 boss
Eight sprint races per year in Formula 1 soon?
Domenicali leaves it open as to whether he is thinking of a copy of what the motorcycle world championship (MotoGP) does, with a sprint race on every race weekend. However, he had already emphasized in 2023 that it would remain a “limited number”, with sprint races at a maximum of “one third” of all events. This would suggest an increase from the current six to eight sprints.
Formula 1 hosted six sprint races for the first time in 2023 and is aiming for the same number in the 2024 season. The sprints in Shanghai and Miami have already been completed. Sprint races will follow at the Grands Prix in Spielberg, Austin, Sao Paulo and Lusail.