Haas F1 boss Steiner expecting three sprint races in 2022

After holding three trial events with relative success last year at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos, F1 had agreed in principle with the teams to double the number of sprint races to six in 2022. 

However, a stand-off over money quickly developed, throwing the plan into turmoil. F1 has since offered a compromise of three sprint events this season in an attempt to overcome the impasse. 

The issue will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the F1 Commission on February 14. 

"I don't know exactly what is happening," Steiner said in a virtual press briefing on Friday following the presentation of the American outfit’s 2022 livery.

"We are having a Formula 1 Commission meeting in [9] days and then we will see more where we are with that one.

"I think we will have three sprint races - but I don't know that - So let's see where we can get to, but I don't have the answer yet.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been critical of the big teams for lobbying for a larger compensation package and warned the stumbling block could result in no sprint races taking place this year. 

Steiner says he can understand why the top teams are pushing for budget cap allowances and remains confident F1 can reach an agreement before the start of the new season. 

“If you've got money, the thing you need is a bigger budget cap - like when you haven’t got the money, what you try to do is to get more money,” he said.

“So I think they are just doing their job. It doesn't disappoint me but I think you've got the governance in place which will deal with it. That is what you have to do.

"We have to lobby on the other side that it doesn’t happen. So I think they try to use their power to move something that would help them to perform, which is being able to spend more money.

“Some teams just need more money, the budget cap is not the problem, it’s actually the cash [that] is the problem. I think the majority of people have got that problem.

“There is a governance in place, and that will sort the problem out in my opinion.”