Carlos Sainz 'open-minded' over another major F1 change

Carlos Sainz has insisted he is "open" to the idea of F1 increasing the number of sprint races it holds every season.

However, the Spaniard declared the sport must work to revamp its commitments for the driver or risk overloading them with duties.

F1 has been hosting six sprint events per season across the last handful of years, however F1 has signalled its desire to boost the figure even further in the seasons ahead.

Should the sport opt to go that route, Sainz suggested it would need changing to avoid spoiling what could unfold in the main grand prix on Sunday.

"I'm open-minded about it," Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

"The sprint format still needs to be fine-tuned and improved, given the fact that sometimes the sprint reveals too much of what's going to happen on Sunday.

"If we can improve that and make the sprint a bit different to what we see on Sunday, I would be open to having more sprint races."

Another compromise Sainz has called for is relaxing the amount of marketing and media duties the drivers are subject to during sprint events, outlining they would take their toll in the long term.

"Unfortunately, that will mean quite a bit more workload for the driver with sprint qualifying and the Friday being busier, the Saturday being a lot busier," he said.

"FOM and F1 also need to adapt a bit their race weekend format with the amount of media and the amount of PR commitments that we have to give us also a bit of time to prepare for these races.

"Nowadays, the last few years have been extremely demanding for the driver in that sense.

"No offence here at all, but you can't imagine with the amount of sponsors F1 teams have nowadays, with the amount of interviews we do, the amount of marketing commitments we have.

"I'm open-minded to produce more timing sessions, more shows on the track, but we need to fine-tune things away from the track.

"That 24 race calendar with, let's say, 24 sprints, imagine if we one day end up there, will be very demanding for everyone in the paddock."