Montreal F1 Sprint Race Plan Ends Due to High Costs
Jun.8 - Canadian GP promoter Francois Dumontier says Montreal will not be hosting a Formula 1 'sprint' race weekend anytime soon.
He told Le Journal de Montreal that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was actually all lined up to be F1's very first sprint weekend in 2000 - until the covid pandemic forced the event's cancellation.
The newspaper claims Liberty Media now charges promoters $4 million extra for the privilege of the extra action of a sprint format event.
"We had to organise the first one, but now it's too expensive," promoter Dumontier confirmed. "We wonder if it's worth it.
"I am actually passionate about our current formula with free practice, qualifying and the race," he insisted. "It's traditional, but it's the right one."
He also questions F1's argument that the sprint format offers spectators more action per weekend.
"In fact," said Dumontier, "the (sprint) sessions are shorter."
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
That's good news! Sprints are a farce and designed only so Liberty can gouge bigger costs to bring higher profits at the expense of the promoters.
Of course, Liberty's rhetoric will always say that it benefits the spectators, although attendances for sprints don't match that propaganda from Liberty.
I hadn't realized a financial aspect could be against any particular location holding sprint format.