Max Verstappen will be furious as F1 chief eyes another major change to the sport

Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali wants to add more Sprint races to the annual calendar.

On Sprint weekends, a second, shorter race is held. To make room for it and a second qualifying session on the schedule, only one practice sessions is held - much to the dislike of engineers up and down the paddock.

Few have stronger opinions about the Sprint than Verstappen, though. The Dutchman has criticised the format at every turn and last year even threatened to walk away from the sport if chiefs continue to make changes.

It seems Domenicali wants to test the triple F1 champion's resolve. Six of the 24 annual race weekends currently use the Sprint format, but the Italian wants to see that number increase.

An entertaining Sprint at last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix was used as an example as he explained his stance. Domenicali said: "The qualifying Sprint in those incredible conditions, we had a lot of running [in the rain] and that reminds us that we have the duty to make sure that every day there is some action on the track to respect the fans that are coming here and want to have fun.

"Why not [add more]? I would say this is great because it keeps the tension on every day and this is something that will be discussed in the future. Now, let's see how this year with the sprints will go. But that's a point of discussion for sure that I want to discuss in the next F1 Commission.

"We need to avoid any possibility to have a situation like Japan with cars not running [because of weather conditions]. This is not good for the people that are coming to see us and see the drivers. I am sure that the teams will understand that we need to find solutions."

The Sprint format was tweaked slightly this year so that the short-form race is held before qualifying for the main Grand Prix. Verstappen admitted in Shanghai that it was a positive change, but it still doesn't change his overall feelings about the format.

After winning the Sprint, he said: "The Sprint format was better, a bit more straightforward I would say. But, let's not overdo it as well, because we are already doing 24 races a year, six of these Sprint events as well.

"I get it. I guess it sells better and better numbers on TV, but it's also more stress on the mechanics and everything. You have to deal with it, but let's not think that now we need 12 of those because it will take its toll on people as well."