The Sprint races introduced in 2021, were received a huge thumbs up from F1 fans. The format of Sprint weekends sees competitive on track action on every day of the Formula 1 weekends.

Friday qualifying sees the cars in parc ferme for the entire weekend, which levels the playing field for the less competitive teams. The less time the front have the grid to set up the car, the greater the chance they fail to find an optimum balance.

Ferrari was believed to initially being against an increase in the number of Sprint races in 2023, yet today the teams agreed to 6 Sprint race weekends next season.

Red Bull had raised the matter that having Sprint races requires incremental resources and Ross Brawn indicated in Imola, that a raise in the cost cap to cover this would not be vetoed by the FIA.

George Russell described the Sprint at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend as “processional”, but both Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles LeClerc were positive about and increase in Sprint races to 6 for 2023.

Following today’s meeting with the teams, the FIA commission released a concluding statement.

“With the first of three Sprint events of the 2022 season popular with fans and stakeholders last weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 and the teams were supportive of an extension to six Sprint events for the 2023 season, running with the same format as in 2022.

“While supporting the principle of an increased number of Sprint events, the FIA is still evaluating the impact of this proposal on its trackside operations and personnel, and will provide its feedback to the Commission.”

The proposal was in fact blocked as the FIA are believed to have asked for more money for “trackside operations” on Sprint weekends.