12/08/2025 12:55
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted he is open to the
possibility of trialling reverse grid races. The sport introduced a
major weekend schedule change at certain rounds four years ago with
sprint races, which remain on the calendar today at six weekends
per season. Domenicali has revealed F1 is looking at adding the
sprint format at even more race weekends going forward, while also
highlighting reverse grid races is coming under greater
consideration. "I do believe there are possibilities to extend two
things, which we need to discuss, both with the drivers and the
teams, and, of course, with the FIA," Domenicali told The Race .
"There are: can we apply that [sprint schedules] with more races?
And is this the right formula to have the possibility to have a
reversed grid, as we are doing with F2 and F3? These are points of
discussion. "I think that we are getting there to be mature to make
sure that this point will be tackled seriously with the teams. "The
vibes to progress in this direction are definitely growing, and
therefore I'm ready to present and to discuss not only more
sprints…but if there are new formats, new ideas." In the past, the
idea of reverse grid races would likely have been dismissed by fans
and teams alike in favour of retaining the traditional formats in
play. But Domenicali suggested shying away from trialling new ideas
would be the wrong approach for the sport to take. "We are open for
that," he said in response to suggestions such as introducing
reverse grid races. "I think that's the right thing - to listen to
our fans, to try to create something, and not to be worried to do
mistakes. "The one who believes to do no mistakes doesn't do
anything new. "I think that the sprint, whatever will be the right
format, we need to have it. It will represent the future.
