Lewis Hamilton has thrown his support behind more sprint races taking place during the season but has admitted that the sport needs to be “very selective” about where to host them.
The Sprint race format was introduced as a trial last season at three events, which saw FP1 take place Friday morning, followed by Qualifying Friday evening.
The results from qualifying dictated the grid for a 100km Sprint race which then took place Saturday afternoon, in the usual qualifying sport.
Prior to the sprint, a second practice session took place, with Sunday’s race remaining unchanged (it’s grid determined by the sprint race result).
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The concept was met with a mixed reception; some loved the increased action, whereas others like Max Verstappen wanted the idea to be scrapped, with nothing believed to be wrong with the current format.
For the second season in a row, three Sprint events were scheduled for 2022, with the third of those set to take place this weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
This number is being doubled for 2023, where six sprint events will take place throughout the year.
Hamilton is all for the plan but has warned the sport over one crucial matter, scheduling the sprints at the correct venues.
“I think we have to be very selective of where we have the sprint races,” said Hamilton.
“We can look at the season and see where all the overtakes are and you can put the sprint races in those places.
“I personally prefer the Friday… I like the format, it is different.
“We have had the same Thursday to Sunday… it was supposed to be a three-day weekend and they changed it back to a four-day, but the race is not always the greatest but it does create a little bit more action.
“Sometimes, there is no overtaking so we should hopefully learn from the races where there has been no overtaking in sprint races and put them in places like Brazil that does create a lot more opportunity.”
This season has seen sprint races in Imola and Austria so far, with both having been undeniably woeful.
Brazil, on the other hand, should be extremely exciting.
Interlagos hosted a sprint weekend in 2021 as well, with it being the best of the three which took place last season.
In the opinion of the seven-time World Champion, Azerbaijan would be perfect to host a sprint event, with Hamilton wanting it to only happen at venues where overtaking can occur.
“Somewhere like Baku, they are going to be the best places for overtaking,” answered Hamilton.
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“I am not against it as long as they are selective with where they are going to put it. If you put it in Monaco, for example, it would be the most ridiculous thing.
“I like we have something different. I do think we need to introduce something else for Monaco because you are just following the lead.
“Can we come up with something else for places like that where there are no overtaking opportunities? I don’t know. I think there is more we can add into the weekends as well, but no more days.”