Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, has indicated the team's openness to fundamental changes in the Grand Prix weekend format. This comes as F1 continues its rapid growth, benefiting all stakeholders.
Why it matters:
Formula 1's popularity is surging, fueled partly by shows like Netflix's Drive To Survive. To sustain this momentum, F1 management believes the sport must evolve. Stella praised F1's leadership for their work in achieving this growth, emphasizing a shared responsibility to maintain it.
The context:
- Sprint Races: Introduced in 2021 with three events, now expanded to six. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has suggested further increasing this number.
- Radical Shifts: Discussions also include controversial concepts like reverse grid races, which would be a significant departure from F1's traditional format.
Stella's perspective:
Stella acknowledged the changing fanbase and the need to reconsider aspects like free practice and the overall race weekend structure.
- "We need to be open to reinventing ourselves if this is needed to sustain this growth."
- He stressed the importance of protecting F1's "DNA" but reiterated the necessity to be open to review and contribute to potential dramatic alterations.
What's next:
These discussions are actively ongoing within the F1 Commission, remaining a top agenda item as the sport looks to the future.