Drivers are split on Formula One’s Stefano Domenicali’s proposal for shorter F1 races, with Fernando Alonso claiming that sees no need for drastic changes.
Formula One’s CEO Stefano Domenicali had publicly discussed the idea of shorter Grand Prix distances as part of a broader plan to modernize the sport and appeal to changing audience habits.
F1 executives have expressed concern that younger fans have shorter attention spans and prefer faster‑paced content. Shortening races was floated as a way to keep the sport engaging for this demographic.
F1 has already experimented with Sprint races, and the idea of shorter main races fits into a broader push to make race weekends more dynamic.
Discussions included more sprint events, reverse grids, and MotoGP‑style formats as part of a larger shake‑up aimed at boosting excitement.
Shorter races could make F1 events easier to schedule for broadcasters and more digestible for casual viewers—similar to how other sports have adjusted formats to fit modern viewing habits.
Antonelli: “Shorter races wouldn’t change much”
Kimi Antonelli, who has quickly earned a reputation for his analytical approach, believes Sprint weekends add excitement — but he’s unconvinced that reducing the length of the main race would improve the show.
“Sprint weekends are fun because you have to be on it straight away,” he said. “But shorter races? I don’t think it would really work. With the tyres we have now, we already do one‑stop races. You’d need a lot more rules around pit stops and strategy, otherwise nothing really changes.”
Antonelli argued that the traditional Grand Prix distance gives drivers the time and flexibility to build their race, recover from setbacks, and execute strategy — elements he fears would be lost in a compressed format.
Colapinto: “I trust the direction the sport is going”
Franco Colapinto took a more diplomatic stance, praising Domenicali and F1 management for the sport’s recent growth.
“Stefano has done a great job bringing the sport to where it is now,” he said. “There are a lot of new things happening, and they’re bringing in a lot of new fans. I’m grateful for the effort.”
Colapinto avoided endorsing or rejecting shorter races outright, instead emphasising that he simply enjoys driving, regardless of the session format.
Alonso: “The problem isn’t the sport — it’s society”
Fernando Alonso, never shy about offering a broader perspective, pushed back against the idea that Formula One needs to adapt to shrinking attention spans.
“I don’t think it’s a problem with the sport,” he said. “Football matches are long too. When I watch, I’m not fully concentrated for 90 minutes — I go to the kitchen, come back. No one is talking about making football 60 minutes.”
For Alonso, the issue lies not with F1’s format but with modern viewing habits. And while he trusts Domenicali’s judgment, he sees no need for drastic changes.
Asked what would be lost if Grands Prix were shortened, Alonso pointed to the strategic depth that defines Formula One.
“In a longer race, you have time to find your way back to your natural position if you execute well,” he explained. “In shorter races, like Sprints, if you start badly, there’s no time to recover. Everyone has the same tyre age, and overtaking becomes very difficult.”
He reiterated his long‑held belief that refuelling — now long banned — would add far more strategic variety than cutting race distances.