P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Changes to the Sprint weekend format have been discussed, but Charles Leclerc believes some would go against F1’s ‘DNA.’
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has expressed strong opposition to the idea of introducing reversed grids to Formula 1 Sprint races, stating that it goes against the “DNA” of the sport. Although there are currently six Sprint races allocated for 2026, discussions have been ongoing about potentially increasing this number to 12 with a reversed grid element, similar to FIA F2 or FIA F3 weekends. This topic of reversed grids has been previously debated in F1, with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton both criticizing the idea in the past. Leclerc emphasized that while he personally believes the current number of Sprint races is adequate, introducing reversed grids should not be part of normal Formula 1 weekends. He suggested considering reversed grids only for Sprint races, emphasizing that he values the existing format of Formula 1 and sees no need for major changes in the sport’s DNA.
