F1 Tipped To Have 10 Sprint Races in 2024 Despite Max Verstappen’s Call of ‘Scrapping’ New Sprint Event

Sabyasachi Biswas | 06/05/2023
F1 Tipped To Have 10 Sprint Races in 2024 Despite Max Verstappen’s Call of 'Scrapping' New Sprint Event

Formula 1 is reportedly wanting to increase the number of Sprint races in 2024. This has come right after the first Sprint race of the season, which gathered massive criticism, mostly from Max Verstappen.

As per the report published by Motorsport Espana, F1 wants to increase the number of Sprint races to 10 as early as the 2024 F1 season. This will further increase the short flat-out races from six.

The proposed increase to 10 Sprint races by Liberty Media will be then added with 24 Grand Prix races in 2024. With already 23 GPs taking place in 2023, the Chinese Grand Prix will make a comeback next year.

However, the governing bodies are yet to finalize the increase. If finalized, F1 will have seven increased Sprint races in a span of two years despite all the criticism.

Verstappen dissed the new event and called to “scrap” it

F1 has introduced the first-ever Sprint shootout this season in the recently concluded Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Following the conclusion of the event, defending champion Max Verstappen hit out at the organizers over it.

As the Dutchman completed the 100 kilometers race, he said, while speaking to the media, “Scrap the whole thing.” The two-time world champion also stated that it’s not racing, but it’s more like gambling, as per WION.

Saying he’s a pure racer, the 25-year-old declared that the Sprints are brought just for the show. With him already warning to leave the sport due to the increased number of events, it’ll be interesting to see how the Red Bull star reacts to this increase.

F1 will lose its exclusivity if events are increased

According to an insider, the most premium form of motorsport will lose its exclusivity if Liberty Media keeps on adding different formats to the racing.

The insider told to Motorsport Espana that they don’t have the tools to prove it, but other sports have made such mistakes, and F1 must not follow suit and increase events after events.

Formula 1 must continue to be an exclusive event. Similar to the Champions League of soccer, instead of being the national championships, where there is limited exclusivity, further believes the insider.

Post Edited By: Samriddhi Jaiswal
Max Verstappen

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Sabyasachi Biswas

Sabyasachi Biswas is an F1 journalist at The SportsRush. With over one and a half decades of love for the sport and five years of experience in the field, he dreams to be a regular at the paddock when the lights go out. A Red Bull fan and F1 fan in general over the years, he enjoyed watching Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel, and Max Verstappen dominate the track. Apart from F1, he's also a big-time Madridista and Federer fanatic. He was a sub-junior level footballer, won inter-district quizzes and debate competitions back in school. A travel freak throughout, he tries different cuisines and learns new cultures whenever he's away from the keyboard.

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