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The number of Formula 1 sprint races per season will rise from three to six from next year following unanimous agreement from the teams.
F1 introduced sprint races for the 2021 season with a Saturday race at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos that set the grid for the grand prix and awarded points to the top three finishers.
This was expanded to points for the top eight for the 2022 season but plans to double the number of sprint races had to be scrapped after the teams and FIA failed to agree on cost cap adjustments to account for the extra number of races.
That resulted in three sprint races this year at Imola, the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos.
The FIA has now confirmed the number of sprint races will rise to six per year from 2023 onwards with an announcement on Wednesday.
“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,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said.
“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.”
FIA president Ben Sulayem called it “another example of the continued growth and prosperity at the highest level of motorsport”.
His statement continued “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”.
The points system and locations of the six sprint races are yet to be confirmed, with F1 sporting director Ross Brawn previously claiming every grand prix wants a sprint race.
