P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has disclosed that he would encourage adding the Sprint format to further weekends
The F1 calendar now includes six Sprint events, with the first one taking place in China and the next one scheduled for the Miami Grand Prix next weekend. Although the Sprint format adds extra competition to race weekends, there are mixed reviews due to the added strain it puts on teams. Teams now have the opportunity to make setup changes between the Sprint race and grand prix qualifying, allowing for more flexibility than before. The Chinese Grand Prix Sprint was particularly thrilling, with a diverse grid and ever-changing weather conditions during Sprint Qualifying highlighting the excitement. Stefano Domenicali has hinted at the possibility of expanding the Sprint format to more races in the 24-round calendar, emphasizing the importance of keeping fans engaged and entertained. While reigning champion Max Verstappen acknowledged the benefits of the new format, he also cautioned against overdoing it, recognizing the toll it can take on teams and personnel. McLaren driver Lando Norris echoed concerns about the sustainability and health impact on the mechanics and engineers, urging a balance between entertainment value and well-being of the entire team.
