F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has hit back at criticism aimed at the sport's record-breaking 24🐲-race calendar - and plans 🔯to potentially add more sprint events.

A number of drivers, including reigning F1 world champion 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, have expressed concerns about ꦉthe ever-growing calendar, p♐articularly with rumours of Domenicali wanting more sprint races.

F1 is set for 24 grands prix in 2🌸024 - and is set for the same in 2025.

Verstappen remains firmly against the pros🌺pect o🌌f additional sprint rounds.

“🍷I'd be careful not to overdo it,” he said in Chi💮na.

“I suppose it boosts the TꦇV ratings, but it adds more stress to the mechanics so let's not start thinking that we should do sprints on half of the GPs on the calendar, otherwise it'll cause mayhem."

Howev♔er, Domenicali has rejected any criticism surrounding the current F1 calendar.

He told Sky: “I think 24 is an optimal number with the events that we have so 🥂far.

“The good news of this year, I took as a sort of responsibility from the teams and to the promoters, to everyone, to announce th🃏e calendar much earlier than normally we do in order for everyone to be ready.

“And of course, has been anඣother step in the direction or try to, we are regionalising the calendar. We cannot do it completely, but I think that we did the right step, so, very happy for thཧat.”

The former Ferrari boss also shrugged off complaints from the💞 drivers, stating that “it’s not compulsory” to drive in F1.

“I speak with them. If you want to drive𝐆, you can drive every day. If you don’t want to drive in Formula 1, it’s not compulsory,” Domenicali added.

“It’s a matter of respect of the fans. Th෴ey want to see them racing and it’s something that we have, once again, the responsibility of all our fans, our partners, our promoters, our sponsors, our bro🌠adcasters, everyone.

“It’s the magic of the sport we live in is because we need heroes that need to enjoꦑy what they’re☂ doing. And I’m sure that they are enjoying [it].”