In Formula One (F1), there are six weekends each year dedicated to sprint races. These sprints are extra races held on some tracks before the main race. Last weekend, the first sprint race of the year happened in China, and the next one will be in Miami next week.
People have different opinions about these sprint races. Some drivers and fans like them because they add excitement to the race weekend. But others think they put too much pressure on the teams who have to work hard to prepare for them.
This year, F1 changed the rules a bit. Now, teams can adjust their cars between the sprint race and the main qualifying race. This change made some people think that the sprints are better now.
Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of F1, watched the sprint race in China and liked what he saw. He thinks there should be more sprint races in the future to keep fans entertained. He said this will be talked about in future meetings.
But he also mentioned the need to be careful. He wants to avoid situations like in Japan where bad weather made it hard for the cars to race. He thinks it’s important to make sure there is always something happening on the track for the fans.
Max Verstappen, who is a world champion in F1, said the new sprint format is better. But he also warned against having too many sprint races. He thinks it could be too much for the teams who already have to work hard for 24 races each year.
Lando Norris, another F1 driver, said the drivers don’t mind the sprint races, but it’s tough for the mechanics and engineers who have to travel a lot. He thinks people should consider their well-being too.
