Formula 1 team𝐆s are expecting the championship to go ahead with its proposal to intro💙duce a shorter Saturday sprint race at certain rounds this year.

Aftℱer the plan received “broad suppo🔜rt” from teams during the latest F1 Commission earlier this year, a working group was created to finalise the details of the proposal that would see 100km races replace qualifying to determine the grid for Sunday’s main grand prix at three rounds this season.

F1 set a target of reach🍒ing a conclusion over the matter before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on 28 March, and it is understood that a decision could come as early as next week following further talks.

McLaren team principal And💎reas Seidl said the Woking squad is happy with how the plans are progressing.

“We are very supportive to give it a go,” he explaꦛined.

“As lon🉐g as it doesn’t artificially change the pecking order in F1, which it doesn’t do, the current proposal.

“I thinkꦺ there have been s✨ome good meetings together with F1, the FIA in the last weeks to define the details, because the devil is always in the detail.

“Bꦅut I think we have a good proposal on the table now and I think we will come to findไ a conclusion during this weekend and then it’s down to F1 to broadcast how we look like.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Merced♔es boss Toto Wolff also indicated that their sides are supportive of iওntroducing sprint races.

“I think we’re due to have further discussions this weekend about it but the principle of 𝔉it, from a promoter’s point of view I understand why they’re trying to do it,” Horner said.

“There’s always a million reasons not to do something. But I think the concept is interesting, I think the way they’re looking at introduciඣng it is reasonably responsible over three events. So why don’t we try it? Let’s give it a go.

“There’s a lot of w𝓰ork going on behind the scenes with t🐭he team managers and the sporting directors to make sure the right regulations are in place for it.

“Hopefully it will be an interesting spectacle. But if it’s som🎃ething the pr🅠omoters want to do, then we’re happy to support.”

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly co𓃲nfirmed the d🎃rivers had discussed the matter during a briefing with F1 bosses Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn on Thursday.

“Yes, we dꦚiscussed it♛, but I don’t want to go public with what was said there,” he added.

“It was meeting so see how, all together, we can mo𝕴ve the s🥃port forward and improve the show for all the people and all the fans, because that’s what we all want.

“I thiꦦnk the main target is to improve the racing, and all the drivers are united in trying to make the car performances’ closer to each other and improve the show.

“I think t🦂his year, Formula 1 is willing to try the Sprint Race, try to see if it can make it more entertaining for the people that are watching on TV or coming to the track and I think it will be interesting.

“We’ll try it in some occasions and we’ll se🍷e how it is.”