Formula 1 wants to radically change the weekend format.

      On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali shared long-term plans regarding what changes await the race weekend format. In particular, Formula 1 is considering doing away with Friday practice sessions, shortening race distances and using a reverse starting grid.

      “We are discussing the weekend format that will be used in the coming years, and first and foremost we’re talking about sprint weekends,” Stefano Domenicali said via videolink at a press conference in Brianza ahead of the Monza round. “We need to understand whether we should increase the number of sprint rounds, how to do that, and whether to use other formats. We will have several discussions with the teams to choose the way forward.

      I must say that, apart from some old, loyal fans, everyone wants sprint weekends. Promoters push this format, and now the drivers are interested too.

      I’ll say something provocative, but free practice sessions are interesting only to a narrow circle of specialists. People want to see more on-track action, which is why they prefer sprint weekends. Having qualifying on Friday has given more topics for discussion. But I understand that all this still needs to become part of Formula 1’s culture.

      The direction of development is clear: I can guarantee that in a few years there will be demand to hold all weekends in a single format. I’m not saying we will copy MotoGP’s approach, where a sprint is held at every round—that would be too big a step. I see it rather as a maturation process, based on respect for a more traditional approach.

      As for the drivers, at first eighteen of them were against the sprint and two in favour—now it’s the other way around. We discussed this at an evening in Austria and everyone was in favour. Even Max Verstappen, when I spoke to him one-on-one, told me that the sprint makes sense. So I see attitudes toward this format changing. After all, drivers are born to fight on track.

      Promoters and fans want more on-track action. And now they understand that it is possible. Our surveys show that the majority of viewers want to see drivers fighting for results.

      Honestly, the audience is tired of free practice sessions. It’s an objective fact we cannot ignore.”

      Domenicali touched on shortening race distances, because “they can be too long for a young audience. We see that highlight reels are in high demand on many of our channels. For those who grew up with the current format, the race distance is fine, but a fairly large part of the audience wants to watch only the key moments.

      Things are going well for us right now, but that’s exactly why we must not rest on our laurels. We need to think about the next step.

      A reverse starting grid is now on the agenda. We discussed this before, but in the coming months we will need the courage to reopen the discussion. I’ve heard several drivers suggest such an option.

      At first everyone was against it, but at the last meeting many said, ‘Why not give it a try?’ I don’t think there is only one correct opinion on this—each one matters. We will discuss it with the FIA and interpret this trend as accurately as possible, rest assured.”