F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has voiced support for reverse grids during F1 sprints and wants to discuss the idea again, arguing there is "nothing fake" about producing "great action" on track. It is an idea that has been floated before but never gained serious traction or buy-in from decision-makers in F1. To many, it is a gimmick tantamount to manufactured racing and something better left to the junior categories. Reverse grids are commonplace on the road to F1, with F2 and FIA F3 using them to allow drivers to showcase different qualities and abilities across a race weekend. In FIA F3, the top 12 qualifiers are flipped for the shorter sprint race, whilst the top 10 is reversed in F2. However, despite the apparent unpopularity of the idea, Domenicali maintains he is open to introducing the added variable to sprint races in F1, saying he would be "interested to discuss" what value they might bring. “There are certain topics that are always quite debatable," the 59-year-old contends when speaking to Motorsport.com . "We can again discuss if there is the need to reverse the grid, or half of the grid like F2 and F3 are doing. "So these are always things to keep the mind alive, if I may say, with the intent to keep something always interesting. “Personally, I would say, why not? It's a lot of action. It is overtaking. You're fighting for points. “Some people can say, ‘Oh, it is a fake way of racing.’ Fake? There is nothing fake related to what you believe is the right format to produce great action. So I would be interested to discuss that again. Yes.”
Domenicali wants eight sprints a season
More generally, and aside from reverse grids, sprints have been a contentious issue since they were introduced to F1 in 2021. The format has been tweaked and refined over the past four years, but opposition remains, particularly from drivers. This season, F1 has introduced a second parc ferme period and changed the order of the weekend to conclude the entire sprint portion of the weekend prior to the beginning of grand prix qualifying. It has been a welcome change and one that has softened the stance of many hard-line critics. “I remember when we introduced them we had a lot of criticism from the purists – who we need to always listen to, even to the ones who are not happy with it,” Domenicali admits. “But I feel that now the thing has shifted completely the other way around. I think that the change we've introduced this year is the right one for many reasons – with separate qualifying and parc ferme. The flow is much better today." The number of sprints was upped to six per season in 2023. Now at 25 percent of the calendar, Domenicali would like to see the proportion increased to a third of all grand prix or eight a year. “I think that we are not in a position to say that we're going to be like MotoGP, for example, with a full race calendar situation of sprints," said the Italian. "But there is margin to grow, maybe for one third of the calendar. That could be a possibility."
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