Formula 1 confirm postponement of key sporting changes in 2022

FIA race director Michael Masi has confirmed that Formula 1 has postponed sporting changes by 12 months, pushing the alterations back to the 2023 season.

Formula 1 is set for major changes next year with the introduction of new technical regulations, where cars will look significantly different in an attempt to create a greater spectacle and closer racing.

There was also set to be the introduction of changes to the sporting structure next year as well, representing a major overhaul across the board.

However, following extensive discussions with teams, Masi has confirmed those changes have been pushed back by 12 months.

“It was a consensus with the teams actually. I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me but a number of them said straight out that with all of the other things that we have going on with new cars etcetera, let’s do ourselves all a favour with finetuning what we have," he said.

"Grab all the elements that have changed in ’22, put them in the known format that we have because with everything else happening next year with the new car, let’s go for something known rather than something completely unknown where we’re all just going to be flying a bit blind and not as used to it.

“Let’s do that. Postpone it until 2023, get all of the relevant elements that were changed in the ’22 regulations will be brought into the current format. The sporting directors have all clearly acknowledged together with all of that, with all of the various management of Covid requirements and so forth that everyone’s time to get their head around that is something that they would prefer just to put off for 12 months.”

Changes that will come into place from the 2023 season include reducing the race weekend from four days to three through the removal of Thursday's traditional media day.