As expected, due to failure to agree on a suitable compensation package for potential damage incurred in Sprint events, there will once again be just three of the events this season.

While it was intended to hold as many as six Sprints this year, three teams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull sought to have the budget cap increased by as much as $5m in order to cover potential costs incurred by damage during the events.

With the teams failing to reach agreement, there were fears that the Sprints may not even happen this year, however at today's meeting of the F1 Commission it was agreed that there will be three.

"Following a review of the three Sprint events that took place in 2021 and a recognition by all that the format created positive benefits for the sport, three Sprint events were proposed for 2022," said the FIA in a statement, "acknowledging this as a sensible number in light of the pressures already on the teams for this season with the introduction of major changes to the regulations.

"The Commission unanimously approved the three Sprint events for the coming season, incorporating a number of updates to the format based on the feedback of fans, media and teams. The Sprint events will be:

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Austrian Grand Prix and Brazilian Grand Prix.

Whereas points were awarded to the first three last season on a 3, 2, 1 basis, this year the Sprint points will be allocated as follows:

1st - 8 points
2nd - 7 points
3rd - 6 points
4th - 5 points
5th - 4 points
6th - 3 points
7th - 2 points
8th - 1 point

Stressing that budget cap adjustments will remain unchanged, the statement notes that this season the pole position for the Grand Prix will go to the fastest driver in Qualifying on Friday.

Following the weather-affected Belgian Grand Prix, the Commission approved proposed updates to the Sporting Regulations as follows:

No points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the leader without a Safety Car and/or Virtual Safety Car intervention. If the leader has completed more than two laps but less than 25% of the scheduled race distance, the top five finishers will be awarded points as follows:

1st - 6 points
2nd - 4 points
3rd - 3 points
4th - 2 points
5th - 1 point

If the leader has completed 25% but less than 50% of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded as follows:

1st - 13 points
2nd - 10 points
3rd - 8 points
4th - 6 points
5th - 5 point
6th - 4 points
7th - 3 points
8th - 2 points
9th - 1 point

If the leader has completed 50% but less than 75% of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded as follows:

1st - 19 points
2nd - 14 points
3rd - 12 points
4th - 9 points
5th - 8 point
6th - 6 points
7th - 5 points
8th - 3 points
9th - 2 points
10th - 1 point

In terms of the investigation into the events in Abu Dhabi, the FIA President led detailed discussions and feedback from the Commission on matters raised will be incorporated into his analysis and he will publicly present news of structural changes and action plan in the coming days.

All the regulatory changes are subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council which meets in Bahrain next month.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Editor, 16/02/2022 16:00

"@ elsiebc

For Christ's sake, don't be giving them ideas."

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2. Posted by elsiebc, 16/02/2022 15:51

"Since the sprint is just making it a longer race with an overnight break, how long before someone gets the idea to award points at various times during the race? They could award points not just at the 25% race distance like on Sprint weekends, but also at 50% and 75% race distance. That would make a lot more points on offer and open up the championship, you know, just like it did at the last points overhaul. "

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3. Posted by Elio, 15/02/2022 14:37

"@habentsen
@Chris Roper

Confusing indeed. Literally interpreted, pole position should indicate who starts first on the grid, closest to the "starting pole". It seems to me that most statistical relevance is going out the window anyway with these messy points systems etc etc."

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4. Posted by Chris Roper, 15/02/2022 10:50

"@habentsen

The way I understand it, though I have no inside information, is that for "Statistical Purposes" the Historical Records and Race results will show the winner of Qualifying on Friday as the "Pole Position Holder" but the Grid on Sunday will be based on the result of the Sprint race on Saturday not the qualifying on Friday.

I don't think that FoM actually understands the sport so they don't want the "Fans" to either."

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5. Posted by habentsen, 15/02/2022 7:51

"«the statement notes that this season the pole position for the Grand Prix will go to the fastest driver in Qualifying on Friday»

Not sure how to understand this, maybe someone here can help?
Does this mean that the fastest driver on friday starts first in the GP on sunday regardless of where the driver finishes in the sprint?
Or is the starting grid for the GP still defined by the finishing order of the sprint?"

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6. Posted by kenji, 15/02/2022 4:21

"Some really good news...at long last. The poll results are proof that the majority of f1 fans who responded to the poll [ 167000 ] voted positively...57/43. i shall enjoy them for what they are and can only assume that those who hold negative views won't be watching at all...in solidarity with the 43%. The main event is still the main event anyway...what's not to like?"

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7. Posted by TokyoAussie, 15/02/2022 3:23

"3 sprints is still 3 too many."

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8. Posted by Editor, 14/02/2022 22:50

"@ Egalitarian

Couldn't agree more

Whatever some might have us believe, the Sprints are not universally popular. However, this is a none too subtle move to force them through, to make them more important by ensuring valuable points are at stake, while in one fell swoop effectively negating the value of the fastest lap point.

As for the points system should races not go the full distance…"

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9. Posted by Egalitarian, 14/02/2022 21:57

"Acknowledging that the sprints are just plain stupid in the first place, the allocation of all of those points is just ridiculous. It's one thing amending the points from 9 down to 1 for the first six places from the 90s, but to now award all of those points for a sprint race nobody asked for...It really is starting to feel like every child wins a prize. It seems to me that these American marketing people have no respect for all of the work, effort and bravery of the engineers and drivers of the past. Grrrrrr."

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10. Posted by Burton, 14/02/2022 20:06

"Wow, a sprint at Imola where you can't even overtake yo begin with. Super stuff!"

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11. Posted by KKK, 14/02/2022 19:51

"Sprint races are just for the show. They add nothing to the actual racing. Can't wait to see the back of the ludicrous idea."

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F1 Commission confirms three Sprints in 2022

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