For the new season, Formula 1 will increase the number of sprint races from three to six. The racing series is now officially announcing the courses on which the 100-kilometer races will be held. The event on Saturday is intended to provide additional excitement on the Grand Prix weekends.
Formula 1 has announced the routes for the six sprint races in the coming season. The premier class of motorsport will hold the mini-events over 100 kilometers each in Baku (Azerbaijan), Spielberg (Austria), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Doha (Qatar), Austin (USA) and São Paulo (Brazil). The traditional circuit in Spa, notorious as the “Ardennes motorway”, has long been considered a candidate and is now taking part for the first time.
According to its own statements, Formula 1 chose those routes for the sprint format that offer “overtaking opportunities, tight racing and high-speed sections”. The focus should be on racing, wheel-to-wheel duels instead of strategic questions, overtaking maneuvers on the track instead of in the pit lane.
“With the introduction of the Formula 1 Sprint, a race weekend has been created that encompasses three days of competitive racing action, providing more entertainment for fans of the sport and added value for key stakeholders such as teams, broadcasters, partners and venues,” said Formula 1 Managing Director Stefano Domenicali.
Sprint races in Formula 1 have been around since 2021. So far, however, only three of these short events have been held each season. The sprint is intended to add additional excitement to the Grand Prix weekend. In contrast to 2021, there were also more points in 2022: the winner got eight points and no longer just three. World champion Max Verstappen won three of the six races in the Red Bull alone. In 2021 these were held in Silverstone (Great Britain), Monza (Italy) and São Paulo (Brazil), this year in Imola (Italy), Spielberg (Austria) and again in São Paulo.
The Sprint changes the weekend format of the Grands Prix. The otherwise usual qualification with the three knockout rounds will take place on Friday instead of the 2nd free practice session, which will take place on Saturday morning. The qualifying result is the basis for the sprint line-up on Saturday afternoon. In the mini event on Saturday there is a free choice of tires, pit stops are not mandatory, unlike in the race – due to the race duration of just under 30 minutes, the teams avoid them if possible. The result of the sprint determines the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.