The 2027 Formula 1 season could see a significant increase in the number of sprint races on the schedule.

The F1 Commission is looking into doubling the number of sprint events from six to twelve. That would mean as many as half the rounds on the calendar would become sprint weekends.

This year’s events in Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore will all feature the extra, one-third grand prix distance races. Other venues which have previously held sprint races include the Red Bull Ring, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Baku, Circuit of the Americas, Interlagos and Losail.

F1 introduced the sprint race format in 2021 and the series claims they are highly popular. Last month’s F1 Commission statement noted “there were discussions around the possibility of increasing the sprint events up to 12 based on the demand for sprint [races] from fans and promoters.”

However reaction to sprint races from fans appears to be far less emphatic than F1’s characterisation. Sprint races tend to receive much lower scores from our readers than grands prix. Last year the top 12 races voted by our readers were all grands prix, while three of the bottom five were sprint races.

Should F1 keep the faith with the sprint race format and add more of them? Or, like the bonus point for fastest lap and two-pit stop races in Monaco, is this another gimmick which has failed and should be scrapped?

I say

There is ample evidence now which shows that the idea of racing Formula 1 cars for one-third of a grand prix distance does not produce an exciting contest in its own right. Some of last year’s sprint races were almost entirely bereft of position changes: in Losail, all the top 16 cars ran in the same order from start to finish save for a single position swap.

If anything, sprint races appear to be doubly negative. As they give teams the opportunity to see how their cars perform over a representative race stint, it removes several unknowns ahead of the grand prix, making the main event more predictable.

I see sprint races as a lose-lose proposition. Not to mention the fact adding more of them will take more useful practice time away which is especially disadvantageous to new drivers. So instead of adding six, I’d deduct six and run the classic grand prix format every weekend.

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You say

What is the ideal number of sprint races to have on a 24-round calendar? Has the format become a vital part of F1 or are you not convinced by it? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.

How many sprint races should there be in a 24-round championship?

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Total Voters: 178

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