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Formula 1

Formula 1 to Double the Number of Sprint Races to Six Next Season

Formula One started testing sprint qualifying races in 2021, and they’re putting their full trust in this format. After initially kicking things off with just three sprint races, F1 bosses finally got the approval from the FIA to double the number to six sprints next season. Sprint races will get even bigger and better next year because the governing body FIA approved Formula 1’s plea to allow for more sprints. F1 will add six sprints to its race calendar for 2023, and FIA president Ben Sulayem believes this is a move in the right direction. "Sprint sessions provide an exciting dynamic to the race weekend format and have proven to be popular over the past two seasons. I am sure that this positive trend will continue and am pleased that the world motorsport council has today given its approval for them to go ahead," said Sulayem in a statement. The sprint qualifying format was initially introduced in 2021, with three Grands Prix – Britain, Italy, and São Paulo. The shorter Saturday race would set the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix, building up the hype for the big event. 2022 introduced some changes, with the first eight finishers receiving World Championship points instead of three, and races taking place at Emilia Romagna, Austrian, and São Paulo Grands Prix.