FIA & F1 'fight over money' in future sprint races

FIA & F1 'fight over money' in future sprint races
28 April 2022 by    2 min read
 29

Apr.28 - Unity between F1's authorities - Liberty Media and the FIA - is under threat over a financial dispute about sprint qualifying.

The decision-making Formula 1 Commission met in London this week, chaired by new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

On the agenda was the Liberty-employed F1 managing director Ross Brawn's desire to expand the number of sprint race weekends for 2023 from its current three to as many as six.

In a statement issued after Tuesday's meeting, the FIA admitted not only that the format last year had been "popular with fans and stakeholders", but that "Formula 1 and the teams" are "supportive of an extension to six" sprints for 2023.

However, the FIA also has a problem with six sprints.

"While supporting the principle of an increased number of sprint events, the FIA is still evaluating the impact of this proposal on its trackside operations and personnel, and will provide its feedback to the Commission," it said.

According to Italy's Corriere della Sera, what's really happening is a dispute about money, and a new rift between Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

"It's a fight over money," correspondent Daniele Sparisci concluded.

The Dutch newspaper De Limburger agrees, concluding that the FIA and Formula 1 are "diametrically opposed" on the funding issue about more sprints.

"Sources report that the FIA, through its new president, has come up with an additional demand. Mohammed Ben Sulayem would like money from Formula 1 to be able to organise the six sprints," the report said.

"The question is how the matter will be resolved, because the Formula 1 leadership finds Ben Sulayem's demand to be unreasonable to say the least."

A spokesman for the FIA is quoted by Belgium's Sporza news agency: "We are in principle in favour of more sprint races, but are still investigating what impact that will have on personnel and our work at the circuits."

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29 F1 Fan comments on “FIA & F1 'fight over money' in future sprint races”

  1. ReallyOldRacer

    "In a statement issued after Tuesday's meeting, the FIA admitted not only that the format last year had been "popular with fans and stakeholders", but that "Formula 1 and the teams" are "supportive of an extension to six" sprints for 2023."

    I have read no evidence that this is a widespread opinion. IMO, it's a Liberty cash grab and Ross Brawn has sold out.

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    • shroppyfly

      Ross does what he's told but I get the feeling if he really thought it gonna hurt f1 he'd dig his heels in.. And to be fair being supportive does NOT mean they'll vote and accept it, happy to be wrong on 1st point 6 is getting silly

      2
      • ReallyOldRacer

        You make a good point. I reckon that the teams will 'support' it only if there is a big increase in the spending cap AND more prize $$$. Good catch. Now go pack, get yourself to Miami, and help Blo' with race management. I'm busy meeting with an arborist about removing a tree.

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  2. f1award

    Are the Americans intent on destroying F1 by milking it for all its worth, maybe it's a bizarre attempt to replace it with that indy rubbish

    8
    1
    • Mike

      The Indy 500 is still a great race to watch. It's a better one to attend. But I don't follow the series. It's usually on the same weekend as Monaco. I watch both. Monaco is fun but hasn't been terribly exciting for years. The 500 has been great the last several years.

      • Swede

        The 500 is ok. Yawn.
        It's a festival of you are there. I've run there twice and it's dull under 200.

        The Indy road races are better.

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  3. Shroppyfly

    London's top arborist specializing in removing money from millionaires bank accounts....your last post had me lololol

    The gift that keeps on giving

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  4. smokey

    Is it a coincidence that F1 is sliding into the same format as used in speedway racing in USA?
    Why are we surprised? F1 is being run by Liberty Media, which is after all an American organisation intent on milking F1 for everything it can!
    I agree with ROR ~ where is the evidence that sprint races are popular with fans and stakeholders? It's a crock of sh_t! Maybe popular for Liberty, the money makers! Not for the fans.
    I don't mind speedway racing, sometimes it makes a nice change. However, it must remain unique in it's own format and not be a template for the future if F1. It's a pity we cannot vote to remove Liberty Media! Maybe Bernie wasn't so bad after all.

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  7. Donalf

    The only good thing about the sprint races is that "other than its a fair test for the machinery" is that it gets all the cars out on the track, to be fair plain testing is old hat and boring and needs ramping up if they could just get it right it's good for the sport.

  8. Blo

    In stock car (uk) many years ago they used to have cars going both ways round the track. That would work for Liberty. Sharpens up the drivers reactions.

    • Donalf

      I dont think that's gonna happen Blo, on the the other hand you never know with fia these days they could go for it. Lol.

  9. Mike

    I don't know why the sprints are so disliked? Would you rather watch practice or a mini race? I don't even watch the practices. Is this just the "purists" who don't want anything to change ever? There are many terms for that but there's no sense in being unpleasant.

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  10. smokey

    Hey! I've got a great idea ~ seeing so many people are bored by test / practice sessions and qualifying, why not use the American speedway format and have warm-up laps, then a series of sprint races, followed by a final multi-lap race, and get it all done in one day! So many people won't then be bored!
    Costs for teams will be reduced, and then we can have 50 races each season so teams can make more money, and Liberty too, of course!

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      • smokey

        Did I win?
        When can I collect my reward?
        Being an old phart maybe I am a traditionalist, however, I don't mind change if there is an advantage to be gained. I don't see an advantage in the sprint races setting the scene for the format of the main race. Sprint races are fine as a spectacle or a side show, however, results of a sprint race should not influence the big event.

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          • smokey

            If you look around, you will find there are very few countries in the world where the F1 events are shown at all, never mind for 3 days!
            It would be wonderful if we could see at least qualifying and the race, however, in Australia the best we can manage is to see the highlights days after the event has concluded. Even with pay tv we don't get to watch 3 days of F1 events!
            That is due to Bernie making the deal with pay tv companies to prevent free to air tv channels from showing live F1 events. Just another money grab!


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