FIA set to tweak F1 sprint format and confirms a host of changes for 2024

On the eve of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, FIA has confirmed that F1’s sprint format will be tweaked further for the coming championship season, albeit the exact changes will be announced later on.

Following the fourth and final meeting of the Formula 1 Commission in 2023 that took place on Friday at the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the season-closing FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the sport has announced several key changes for the future.

One of the changes revolves around the controversial sprint race format. The 100km dash was introduced in 2021 with three sprint races having been run both that year and in 2022. The current season included six race weekends that incorporated the sprint format with Baku, the Red Bull Ring, Spa, Qatar, Austin and Sao Paulo having hosted the special schedule and the additional short race.

The rules of the sprint format have been changed several times since they were introduced two years ago, and they are set to be tweaked next year again. The governing body has now revealed that they will review the schedule and parc ferme regulations.

The FIA noted: “The Commission gave overall support for an update to the Sprint Format for 2024 to further rationalise the weekend by separating Sprint activities from those for the Grand Prix. The final calendar for the 2024 Sprint events will be published in the coming weeks.

“The Sporting Advisory Committee will work through specific details, particularly regarding timing and parc fermé regulations, for a final proposal to be presented to the F1 Commission for the first meeting of 2024.”

The Commission announced that further tests will take place in 2024 with regards to the ‘wet weather package’ to reduce spray and improve visibility for drivers. The FIA noted that "this test will use a cover design that completely envelopes the tyre, in order to establish a proof of concept for the wheel cover with these cars and help define the future direction of the project.

Following the extreme temperatures experienced during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, the Commission has approved updates to the Technical Regulations to permit a scoop to increase driver cooling to be fitted to the car. Additional analysis is being carried out for supplementary cooling options for more extreme conditions.

Among minor tweaks to the technical rules, a safety-related update to the Technical Regulations was approved, mitigating the danger created by metallic components in the floor, should they become detached, by limiting their mass and number.

The Commission approved further refinements regarding the exclusion of Sustainability Initiative Costs from the Financial Regulations. This specifically refers to costs that are attributable to defining and identifying sustainability objectives and the strategy envisaged to achieve these objectives, and the monitoring, collation and production of reports to measure progress against carbon footprint and emissions targets and overall ESG sustainability objectives.

Finally, the Commission agreed that no work may be carried out on the development of a car for the 2026 season before the start of 2025.