Sep.3 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has dropped the clearest hint yet that Formula 1 will expand its sprint race format – and even experiment with reverse grids.
Speaking to Italian media before this weekend’s Monza event, the F1 CEO said demand is growing from all sides for shorter Saturday races and sprint qualifying to replace traditional practice sessions.
“We need to discuss the formats for the next few years,” he said. “Everyone wants more sprint races instead of Friday free practice, from the promoters to the fans.
“The drivers are convinced they need them – 18 are in favour and maybe two are against. Even Max (Verstappen) is becoming convinced, and things are moving in that direction.”
For now, Domenicali promised not every weekend of the 24-race calendar would feature the format.
“Having them every weekend, like MotoGP does, is too big a step, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get there, or at least approach the weekends differently. It’s a maturation process that must be undertaken with respect. It’s an approach that evolves the sport’s content.
“Fans are tired of free practice, our polls show, and they want to see action. The idea of a reversed grid is also on the table.”
Only days earlier, Domenicali acknowledged in De Telegraaf that resistance to the sprint concept was once fierce.
“How dare we touch the very DNA of F1?” he recalls of the criticism. “But if Formula 1, or any other sport for that matter, doesn’t dare to adapt its philosophy, it loses the attention of the general public.
“We must continue to evolve as a sport, without alienating the fans, of course. But not listening to the new generation is not a good thing either.”
Sceptics may scoff at the suggestion Verstappen is softening his stance, given his well-known hostility to the format. But Domenicali insists: “Max? If you talk to him in confidence, he’ll start to recognise that the format makes sense.
“After all, drivers are born to race. In a few years, all the GPs will ask for a weekend with the sprint race on Saturday.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES