F1 executives are receptive to changes in the weekend format as speculation surrounding sprints intensifies.

      "Clearly, we will strive to be sensible."

      Formula 1 executives have indicated that they are willing to rethink the weekend format of the sport again in the future, amidst speculation that Liberty Media may seek more changes beyond 2026. During discussions in Hungary on Friday, team leaders and suppliers were queried about Liberty's trajectory since its acquisition of the sport in 2017, and whether F1 needs to keep evolving to ensure continued mainstream growth and relevance to audiences.

      McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the efforts made by Formula 1 and CEO Stefano Domenicali, but conceded that further changes might be essential. "We all share the responsibility to support the evolution that F1 as a whole is undertaking," he stated. "As part of this responsibility, we must be open to reinventing ourselves if it is required to maintain this growth."

      "We also recognize that fandom has transformed, and there might be a need to reassess our approach to free practice and the entire race weekend. I believe we need to be receptive to that. Clearly, we will aim to be reasonable and work to preserve certain core elements of Formula 1's identity, but it is certainly our duty to make contributions."

      While there has been speculation about increasing the number of sprint races or altering Friday practice, a recent leak from Zandvoort seems to confirm that the number of sprint events will stay at six for the 2026 season. However, the possibility for further changes remains open, even though additional alterations may not be well-received by many drivers and traditional fans.

      New Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane remarked, "At the end of the day, we need to give our customers what they want—those who are watching us. I believe sprints are entertaining, and I’d be fine with having a few more, no issue there."

      Mario Isola, the motorsport head at Pirelli, concurred that evolution is vital, even when the sport seems to be thriving. "Altering something when everything is progressing well is risky, and nobody wants to take risks," he stated. "However, if we wish to avoid falling behind, we must anticipate what the future success of Formula 1 could look like, as Andrea mentioned, it is not guaranteed.

      "We have reached this point because Stefano and his team opted to implement something that was initially quite unusual—and it proved successful. Now, we are asserting that Formula 1 is an incredible platform for all of us, but we must continue striving to create something new."