Formula 1’s plan to double its Sprint races from six to 12 per season in the future has detonated a fresh debate in the paddock – and the drivers are not lining up in neat formation.
What began in 2021 as a three-race experiment has steadily embedded itself into the championship DNA. Now, after discussions at the F1 Commission in Bahrain, the sport is openly weighing up expanding Sprint weekends to half the calendar from 2027.
The commercial logic is obvious: more action, more jeopardy, more sellable content across all three days. But inside the cockpit? It’s complicated.
The push for expansion is being driven by fan appetite and promoter pressure, according to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
"The reason why we started to discuss the number of sprints and maybe some different format is because of the feedback we received from the fans, the promoters, that people want to see real action during the three days, so already on Friday people want to see something sporting – qualifying or whatever it is," Domenicali said on Thursday in Bahrain.
"Even if it is not a sprint weekend, there is a trend of [wanting to have] something different. We're thinking to keep every day we are on track relevant."
The message from the top is clear: Fridays can no longer afford to be slow burns. Every session must matter. Every day must sell.
But while the commercial rights holder sees opportunity, drivers see workload – and risk.
Williams charger Carlos Sainz isn’t slamming the brakes on the idea – but he’s not flooring it either.
“I'm open-minded about it,” he said. “I think the sprint format still needs to be fine-tuned and improved, given the fact that I think sometimes the sprint reveals too much of what's going to happen on Sunday.
“If we can improve that and make the sprint a bit different to what we see on Sunday, I would be open to having more sprint races.
“Unfortunately, that will mean quite a bit more workload for the driver with sprint qualifying and the Friday being busier, the Saturday being a lot busier.
“So I think FOM and F1 also need to adapt a bit their race weekend format with the amount of media and the amount of PR commitments that we have to give us also a bit of time to prepare for these races, because nowadays the last few years have been extremely demanding for the driver in that sense.
“So, no offence here at all, but you cannot imagine with the amount of sponsors F1 teams have nowadays, with the amount of interviews we do, the amount of marketing commitments we have.
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“I think I'm open-minded to produce more timed sessions, more show on the track, but we need to fine-tune things away from the track because that 24 race calendar with, let's say, 24 sprints, imagine if we one day end up there, will be very demanding for everyone in the public.”
It’s a diplomatic answer with an unmistakable edge. Sainz isn’t anti-Sprint. He’s anti-burnout. The subtext is blunt: add more racing, and something else has to give.
If Sainz is cautious, Charles Leclerc is measured but firm.
“I agree with everything that Carlos said, really,” commented the Ferrari driver.
“The only thing I'll add is that I actually really like the sprint weekends, but I still believe that it should be a minority of races and having it as a standardised weekend in the future, if that's the plan at any time, I don't think is the right thing.
“At least I wouldn't like it that way, but I'll drive anyway and adapt to it. But I think six is probably the sweet spot.”
That’s not outright rebellion – but it’s resistance. Leclerc enjoys the format. He just doesn’t want it to swallow the sport whole.
The Sprint debate cuts to the heart of Formula 1’s identity crisis: sport versus spectacle, purity versus product. Promoters want packed grandstands from Friday morning. Fans crave meaningful action. Broadcasters demand content.
Drivers, meanwhile, are staring at a 24-race calendar that already stretches physical and mental limits – and now they’re being asked to potentially race flat-out twice as often on those weekends.
Twelve Sprints might double the fireworks. Or they might double the strain.
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