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“You get more out of the race weekend”: Haas boss Guenther Steiner wants more sprint races added to F1’s 24 race calendar

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"You get more out of the race weekend": Haas boss Guenther Steiner wants more sprint races added to F1's 24 race calendar

Haas boss Guenther Steiner feels that F1 should add more sprint races to their 24-race calendar from 2023 onwards. 

The introduction of sprint races in F1 has been met with heavy criticism. Fans are divided on whether they should stay in F1 or not. Some feel that it adds more value to a race weekend, but others believe that the structure of a race weekend should remain as it is.

A lot of teams are also concerned about sprint races taking over because of the $145 million budget cap. More races mean that there are increased chances of crashing and other incidents that incur extra costs.  This is why they want the cap to be more flexible if Sprint races are to stay.

This season, we have seen two Sprint weekends so far, with a third one set to take in Brazil in November. However, the 2023 season will see six Sprint races spread across its 24-race schedule.

While adding more races to next year’s calendar isn’t possible, Steiner feels that they can increase the number of Sprint races.

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Sprint races are not extra work for teams, insists Guenther Steiner

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said that increasing the number of races from 24, won’t be possible for F1. Having more races is profitable for the business because it means that more fans will be tuning in over the course of a year.

Steiner has a solution for that. The 57-year-old feels that adding more Sprint races will increase the value of a race weekend. This is because fans will have more to cheer for, and the number of races per year will be more.

“You get more out of the race weekend for the spectators,” Steiner said. “Because you have more races on a weekend, it is a good thing.”

“The sprint races are more work but they are not a lot more work. Maybe then we can do something. Have qualifying on a Saturday morning instead of having the practice, have qualifying there for the Sunday race.”

Also read: Lewis Hamilton once helped raise $4.9 Million for a UNICEF charity in Philippines

Haas won’t be able to rotate the workforce like Mercedes

Earlier this year, Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff said that he won’t be able to attend all 24 races next year. He along with some of the top teams have decided to rotate their work force, something which they have been doing already.

Haas, meanwhile, cannot do that. Steiner revealed that they can rotate a few mechanics working for them, but they don’t have the workforce size which Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull have.

As a result, even though it’s logistically very difficult, they will have to deal with travelling to 24 races in 2023.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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