Overview

• Stefano Domenicali has formally mooted increasing sprint weekends beyond the six set for the 2026 season, aiming for a midpoint between six and the full 24-race calendar.
• He has proposed introducing reverse-grid starts for sprint races, following the model already used in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
• Upcoming discussions with teams, drivers and the FIA will determine how to structure and phase in the expanded and revised sprint formats.
• The initiative responds to heightened promoter and fan interest in more sprint events and novel race structures.
• While F1 will begin the 2026 rules era with six sprint weekends, the overhaul targets richer broadcast content and stronger commercial sustainability.