'Maximum of three sprint races in 2022 by Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes'

Formula 1 tested race weekends with a sprint race during three weekends in 2021. At such a weekend, qualifying for the sprint race on Saturday was done on Friday. That sprint race would then determine the starting grid for Sunday's race. The tests caused mixed reactions, but F1 had hopes of expanding these tests.

Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing

From three to seven sprint races was the plan, but for this ample doubling of the number of sprint races, F1 needs approval from eight of the ten teams, and it will not get it. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing are left for planning because they don't get the desired margin in the budget cap.

All other (smaller) teams had already said 'yes' to the proposal, also because F1 provided a sum of money for it. The top teams however are not waiting for this money. They want extra room in the budget cap for that damage, while in 2021 (except for Pierre Gasly 's crash in Monza) no extra costs were made compared to a normal weekend.

The smaller teams, therefore, accuse the top three teams of trying to use the extra sprint races as a reason to be able to increase the budget cap. This is certainly striking, as the top teams are not willing to take the same amount if it is given outside the budget cap as compensation.

Maximum of three sprint races

Stefano Domenicali's plan to organize seven sprint races has therefore died a quiet death for 2022, according to AMuS. A few days ago the teams were informed that a maximum of three sprint races will be organized in 2022, maybe even less. Which Grands Prix these will be is still unknown.

F1 would now aim for a new proposal for 2023. Because there is more time in between, Domenicali then only needs six of the ten teams to vote in favour. In the original plans, Bahrain would have organized the first sprint race, for which the country would have paid a considerable amount of money. The teams are now missing out on that amount of money.