Max Verstappen and the purists despise them but Formula One is flexible enough to know the format needs a revamp for next season
Loathed and loved, Formula One’s sprint race format remains a distinctive, divisive subject for the sport. However, while its detractors might wrinkle their noses at the short-form weekend they must accept it is here to stay. Yet there is some solace, too, in the knowledge that F1 is flexible enough to consider changing the structure again in an attempt to successfully fine tune it.
The sprint was introduced in 2020, with the intent of livening up a race weekend, offering more competitive sessions. It has split opinion since and with the sixth and final sprint of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend it is once again under scrutiny.