F1 Keeps Sprint Format and Announced Next Years Venues
Dec.10 - Formula 1 has unveiled its lineup of six circuits for the 2024 Sprint events, featuring a mix of familiar and new locations. The upcoming season will see Brazil hosting its fourth Sprint, Austria its third, while Austin and Qatar are on the schedule for a second consecutive year. Notably, the series will introduce Sprint races in China and Miami for the first time.
The selection of these venues reflects F1's ongoing effort to choose tracks conducive to overtaking and engaging races. Since the Sprint concept's debut in 2021, it has brought a new dynamic to race weekends, offering additional on-track competition and a variation from traditional practice sessions.
The 2024 F1 Sprint schedule is as follows:
- China (Shanghai): April 19-21
- Miami (Miami): May 3-5
- Austria (Spielberg): June 28-30
- United States (Austin): October 18-20
- Brazil (Sao Paulo): November 1-3
- Qatar (Lusail): November 29 - December 1
Nielsen's research across 21 markets indicates a notable increase in viewership for Sprint events. For instance, the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying saw an 83% rise compared to the 2022 practice session. Similarly, the US Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix experienced significant audience growth.
The F1 Commission's November meeting saw discussions on evolving the Sprint format for 2024, aiming to differentiate the Sprint activities from the main Grand Prix events more clearly.
Details on timing and parc ferme regulations are being refined by the Sporting Advisory Committee, with a final proposal expected to be presented at the F1 Commission's first 2024 meeting. Any updates to the format will be announced following this meeting.
Shanghai is poised to host the inaugural 2024 Sprint event, marking its return to the 2024 F1 calendar. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season's Sprint events, highlighting the new additions of China and Miami. He noted the Sprint's role in boosting TV audiences and enhancing fan engagement.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, also remarked on the return of four venues and the new challenges and dimensions added by Shanghai and Miami. He emphasized the sport's need for continual development and adaptation, including ongoing work with FOM and teams to shape the future of the Sprint format.
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I still wish YMC would be among the sextuplet, but even more so, I wish neither COTA nor Miami were in the mix.
However, if/when the session order will be shootout-sprint-qualifying (which would be good), the sprint would be decently early in the evening in Europe.
At least Spa & Baku return to standard format as I hoped.
Lastly, Shanghai is a surprise addition because of its lengthy absence, meaning a single practice session will be relatively unideal.
Why are we still poncing about with 6 races being sprints? The format has been around for a couple of years, either go with it for all the races and make it permanent or ditch it.
Please just decide one way or the other.