F1 boss Domenicali doubles down on plan for big change to race weekend structure

27 March 2023 , 08:59

629     0

Stefano Domenicali is the chief executive of Formula 1 (Image: PA)

Stefano Domenicali has repeated his desire to see practice sessions removed from the Formula 1 race weekend structure.

At a normal Grand Prix, there are three practice sessions before qualifying on a Saturday and the main event on the Sunday. That changes slightly when the Sprint format is being used, with one of those practice sessions sacrificed for a second, short-form race.

F1 chief executive Domenicali has admitted, though, that he would be happy to see practice disappear altogether. Speaking at the first MotoGP race weekend of the 2023 season, he asserted that fans watching on TV are generally not interested in watching those sessions.

"I am a supporter of the cancellation of free practice sessions which are of great use to the engineers, but that the public doesn't like," he told Portugal's Sport TV.

It is not the first time Domenicali has admitted a desire to greatly reduce the amount of practice teams will have ahead of a race. Last year, he suggested a proposal which would see the number of sessions reduced from three to just one in what he admitted would be a "very aggressive" move.

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

The former Ferrari chief said: "I think to see from a fan perspective that every day there is something to fight for on the track is very important. Free practice is very interesting for the engineers or for the drivers. But at the end of the day, in sport, you need to fight for something.

Practice sessions are used by teams to gather vital data ahead of a race (Getty Images)

"There are already limitations on the calendar to have free practice out of the racing weekend. So I will be very aggressive to have one free practice in the morning on Friday and then every time we go on the track, something to be awarded.

"Because in that respect, there is some action going on, people are always connected to understand what is happening. So this will be my input for the discussion on the future. Every time we will be on the track – with the respect of the race on Sunday, that has to be always the most important part of it – there should be something to fight for in terms of points, in terms of awards. That's my opinion."

While Domenicali's desire is clear, it appears unlikely that he will be able to bring his vision to life any time soon. For such a change to be made, the FIA would need to give the green light while F1 would also need the support of the individual teams, which may prove difficult.

Daniel Moxon