F1 team boss open to further grand prix format changes

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has revealed he would be happy to see F1 introduce more sprint races going forward.

Sprint races have been part of the F1 schedule since 2021, originally joining for three events per year.

That figure has since doubled to six race weekends per year, and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has suggested the sport could look to boost the number even further going forward.

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has stated he is “open” to such changes in the future, a position Permane agrees with.

“We need to give our customers what they want at the end of the day - the spectators, the people watching us,” Permane told media including RacingNews365 

“That’s where we go to first and, of course, we put our trust in Stefano and F1. They’re doing a tremendous job. 

“With them and through the F1 Commission, we can shape the sport. I think sprints are good fun. I'd be happy to do a few more, no problem.”

Domenicali has also suggested reverse grids could become an option for grand prix weekends, likely implemented through the sprint race.

Pirelli's Head of F1 Mario Isola stated the sport must be wary of balancing taking risks and avoiding implementing fresh ideas too late.

“Let me add that changing something when everything is going well is risky, and nobody wants to take any risk,” Isola said.

“But if we don't want to be late, we need to anticipate what could be the success of the future Formula 1, that is not granted.

“We arrived at this point because Stefano and his organisation decided to do something that was at the beginning quite strange, unusual, and it worked well. 

“So now we are saying Formula 1 is a fantastic platform for all of us, but we need to continue with this bid to create something new.”