F1 chief reveals two major changes being discussed in potentially huge shake-up

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has offered some insight into the discussions taking place at how the sport could look in the future but not all drivers will be happy with their contents

Two significant changes are up for discussion in Formula 1 as the chief executive of the sport mulls over the prospect of introducing reverse grids. Stefano Domenicali is considering the prospect as he believes it is the ‘right thing’ to implement for fans of the sport.

The former Ferrari team principal would also like to see an extension to the number of sprint events in the F1 calendar. Currently six out of 24 races have a sprint element to their competitive weekend.

Reverse grids meanwhile are already part of the Formula 2 and Formula 3 events calendars. In that, the top 10 qualifying order is reversed for the sprint race, where fewer points are on offer.

Both ideas have seen opposition in the past. The likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have expressed a critical view over reverse grids, while Max Verstappen has spoken against the extension of sprint events in the past.

But Domenicali reckons it is important to try and push the sport forwards. He told The Race: “I do believe there are possibilities to extend two things, which we need to discuss, both with the drivers and the teams, and, of course, with the FIA.

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“They are: can we apply that [sprints] with more races? And is this the right formula to have the possibility to have a reversed grid, as we are doing with F2 and F3? These are points of discussion.

“I think that we are getting there to be mature to make sure that this point will be tackled seriously with the teams.”

Domenicali added: “The vibes to progress in this direction are definitely growing, and therefore I’m ready to present and to discuss not only more sprints, but if there are new formats, new ideas.

“We are open for that [reverse grids]. because I think that’s the right thing, to listen to our fans, to try to create something, and not to be worried to do mistakes. The one who believes to do no mistakes doesn’t do anything new.”

And at the very least, there is little chance of sprint events disappearing — the F1 CEO believes it is important to add more. “I think that the sprint, whatever will be the right format, we need to have it,” he said.

“It will represent the future. I think that, between six and 24, we have to do steps into the middle.”

Four-time world champion has expressed his preference for a traditional weekend in the past. “I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes, of course, what I think is right some people don’t agree with, but I just think as a pure racer, what is right,” he said in 2023.

“When you’re running a business, it’s sometimes different what is right. I guess it’s just a difference in opinion.”

While McLaren star Lando Norris agreed. “I don’t want to have a Sprint race every single weekend,” he said. “I think it’s still important to have what we’ve had for many years. I think that’s what makes Formula 1 exciting and cool.”