Formula One teams and the sport’s governing body are locked in a stand-off over plans to increase the number of sprint races in 2023.
Introduced at three events last year, the sprint race format will be used at three more events this year, the first of which was last weekend’s race at Imola.
At a meeting of the F1 commission, teams voted to increase that to six races in 2023, but the FIA has thrown a spanner in the works.
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“With the first of three sprint events of the 2022 season popular with fans and stakeholders last weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 and the teams were supportive of an extension to six sprint events for the 2023 season, running with the same format as in 2022,” the FIA said in a statement.
“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.”
Multiple reports suggest all 10 teams voted for the expansion to six sprint races, only for FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to block the move, seeking more money for the governing body from F1.
Speaking after the Imola race, F1’s managing director of motorsport, Ross Brawn, said the sprint format was here to stay.
“We didn’t know quite where we were last year with the old cars, but I think they can see the way this is feeding into the new cars and the philosophy of the new cars,” he said.
“I’m optimistic that they will see the value in it, what we’re giving the fans.
“The thing you should always remember about the sprint is it gives you a great Friday as well. We have qualifying on a Friday, we have three days of action for the fans, and we can’t ignore that.”
The next sprint race is scheduled for the Austrian Grand Prix in July.
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