
F1 chief reveals TWO major changes being discussed including reverse grids in shake-up
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali is toying with the prospect of reverse grids being introduced in the future.
Currently, all Formula 2 and Formula 3 events involve reverse grid races in their schedule.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Lewis Hamilton is not a fan of the reverse grid idea
It means the top ten qualifying order is reversed for the sprint race with less points on offer.
Then all the positions below the top ten remain the same for both races.
Domenicali is also exploring the prospect of increasing the number of sprint events, which is currently six out of 24.
He told The Race: "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,
"They are - can we apply that [sprints] 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."
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have previously been critical of the reverse grid idea, while Max Verstappen is not a fan of the sprint format.
Domenicali "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.
"We are open for that [reverse grids]. because 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.
Toto Wolff defends F1 driver Lewis Hamilton after 'useless' comments
'The one who believes to do no mistakes doesn't do anything new."
Back in 2019, seven-time world champion, Hamilton said: 'The people who propose that don't really know what they're talking about.'
In the past, Verstappen has expressed his dislike for the sprint format, which increases the number of competitive sessions per weekend from two to four.
But Domenicali insists the sprints are here to stay, adding: "I think that the sprint, whatever will be the right format, we need to have it,
'It will represent the future.
'I think that, between six and 24, we have to do steps into the middle.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Former McLaren driver predicts Piastri-Norris crash in title clash
Juan Pablo Montoya, a former McLaren driver, predicts an "explosion" within the team as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battle for the 2025 F1 world championship. Piastri currently leads Norris by nine points with 10 races remaining in the season, which resumes next week with the Dutch Grand Prix. Despite their respectful rivalry and only one collision so far, Montoya believes the high stakes of the championship will inevitably lead to a crash between the teammates. Montoya suggests that as the season progresses and points become critical, drivers might resort to extreme measures to secure the championship. He also highlights that the upcoming regulation changes for next year mean this could be the only opportunity for either driver to win a world championship, intensifying the pressure.


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
McLaren ‘explosion' predicted with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battling for F1 title
Ex- McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes the team will 'explode' this season as their drivers battle for their first F1 world championship. Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by nine points with 10 races left of the 2025 season. The sport returns to action after the summer break next week with the Dutch Grand Prix, a race Norris won last year. The two drivers have fought respectfully so far this season and have only collided once in Canada, an incident Norris took full blame for, and avoided a clash at the last race in Hungary despite a late tussle for the lead. Yet seven-time grand prix winner Montoya, who raced for McLaren from 2005-2006, can see a crash occurring on track given the stakes at the papaya outfit this year. 'The McLaren group is in a groove, it's peace and love and everybody's happy and we're best friends and we hold hands when we go racing together,' said Montoya. 'But if I was a betting person, there's going to be an explosion at McLaren at some stage. 'It is a world championship they are fighting for. When was the last time McLaren had a world champion? 2008 with Lewis. They have the constructors in the bag. And they want to let the drivers race. And they want to see fair racing. 'The question for me is sooner or later they are going to end up crashing. You are going to get to the situation where because they are so close in points, every position will matter. It will get to the point where you will be better off crashing with your team-mate rather than losing the points to win a championship. 'When we come to the last few races, and one guy is five points ahead and he passes you, and it means a swing in points, somebody is going to do something crazy.' Montoya added that Norris and Piastri may only have one opportunity to win the world championship, given the change in regulations for next year could shake-up the pecking order. 'It doesn't how good the relationship is or might be,' Montoya, speaking in association with CoinPoker, added. 'This is one rare opportunity that they will have of being world champion. 'Let's say Lando was behind and is about to win the title if he wins the last race, do you think Oscar is going to race him clean? There's no f****** way. 'If the regulations were the same next year, I think the approach might be different. But with the new regulations being so dramatically different, and there's no guarantee that the car is going to be competitive next year. 'This might be the only chance for them in their careers to be a world champion.'


The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Toto Wolff backs Valtteri Bottas to return to F1 ahead of Cadillac entry in 2026
Toto Wolff believes Valtteri Bottas deserves a seat back in Formula One amid speculation linking the Finnish driver with Cadillac for 2026. The 35-year-old driver spent 12 consecutive seasons on the grid, making his debut in 2013 for Williams before moving to Mercedes – where he won 10 races across five years – and Sauber. Bottas has spent this season as a reserve at Mercedes but with American-owned Cadillac joining the grid as F1 's 11th team next year, the Finn is being heavily linked with one of their two seats alongside the likes of Sergio Perez, Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich. Wolff, who re-signed Bottas as back-up for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli this year, insists the 35-year-old would be 'absolutely on the pace' if recalled to the cockpit. 'Valtteri has been part of the Mercedes family for a long, long time,' Wolff said. 'He is a driver that, if some of our guys had fish poisoning, you put him in the car and he's going to be absolutely on [the] pace. That's great to know, that your reserve and third driver is as quick as it gets. 'But obviously, with Valtteri, he deserves a race seat. Hopefully that door is going to open. Watch this space.' Speculation is rife that Cadillac are making their moves for drivers ahead of next year, with the experienced duo of Bottas and Perez frontrunners to take both seats. Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon revealed last month that his team were in talks with at least three different drivers. "Everyone wants to prove something else again,' Lowdon, who also represents Ferrari reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, said. "I never look at that as the biggest motivator. Our team is not there as a vehicle for someone to prove a point. 'Our team is there to provide a position on the pitch, if you like. For someone to prove what they can do for sure, but it's not the vehicle to show the world, prove a point or whatever. "The driver is there to do the best that they possibly can for their team, and they should be motivated for the team around them as well. So, I'm less keen on people who kind of want to prove a personal point." Cadillac, led by CEO Dan Towriss and advised by 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti, have less than seven months until they join the sport at next year's season-opener in Australia.