Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali gives the new sprint format of the premier class good marks and comments on possible changes in the future. However, the Italian stresses that he has no plans to follow MotoGP and introduce a sprint race at every race weekend.
With the expected Formula 1 calendar of 24 grands prix, that would be eight per season, a slight increase from the six planned for this year. Domenicali also points out that he’s had positive feedback on the new standalone format, but acknowledges that it’s harder to please the sport’s longer-term fans.
“Of course we did that in consultation with the teams and the FIA,” he says when asked about the new sprint format in a phone call with Wall Street analysts. “Because, as you know, our idea is to make sure that there is always something going on on the track during the race weekend.”
Formula 1 CEO Domenicali: Sprint weekend in Baku “was great”
“The result of the first race this year was very encouraging. And every one of our partners, promoters, media partners and also the teams are very positive. Of course there is something we want to take as a lesson to see at the end of the summer, if there is anything we can learn to do even better.”
Two more sprints will take place in Austria and Belgium before the summer break, before there will be three more sprint events in Qatar, Austin and Brazil in the second half of the season.
“But all in all, the first weekend with the sprint format was great,” said a satisfied Domenicali. “And I think that, as always, if you want to do something different in a very standardized ecosystem, the reaction from, say, traditional fans is the one that you have to wait and see in the longer term.”
Formula 1 CEO Domenicali explains the great urge for change
“But usually we’ve seen a very, very positive reaction from the new fans. That’s what the promoters have worked towards.” Regarding the number of sprints, he said: “I would say that we don’t want to get into a situation where we are going to run all races in a sprint format in the future.”
“We want to keep a limited number of maybe a third of the calendar and create something special in terms of competition that has sporting value with trophies and of course commercial opportunities too. I think that’s the right way.”
Domenicali also emphasizes that all sports have to move with the times and gives examples of other sports where the rules have been adjusted: “If I may summarize one more thing that I think is important, then I see one in all sports today big trend of not being stable, let’s say not conforming to the old rules.”
Liberty Media with record Formula 1 sales in the first quarter of 2023
“So we’re just following what baseball has done and what the NBA has done. That means all pro sports need to listen to the desire and new input of fans, promoters and partners to make the game more exciting. I’m in such a positive mood and look forward to continuing to work on this project.”
Meanwhile, Liberty Media on Friday announced results for Formula 1’s first quarter of 2023, which covers the period from January to March and includes revenue from the first two events of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Total revenue increased slightly 6 percent to $381 million from $360 million in the year-ago period, while operating revenue increased 3 percent to $36 million from $35 million, with the minor development partly at the expense of $6 million for planning the Las Vegas Grand Prix.