Monaco GP F1 race weekend format to change in 2022

Traditionally, the Monaco race weekend is comprised of four days, with free practice held on Thursday before a bank holiday - originally for the celebration of Ascension Day - is observed on Friday.

Following the day of rest for F1, track action resumes on Saturday with final practice and qualifying, before the grand prix itself takes place on Sunday.

However, the Monaco GP is to undergo a historic change of format from 2022 by switching to the same three-day format used by all other races.

“Monaco will be in three days, straight away,” Domenicali told CNN.

“So Friday, Saturday and Sunday instead of Thursday, hold, and then Saturday and Sunday. That’s the change we’re going to introduce next year.”

F1 is targeting a record 23-round calendar next season and hopes to announce its provisional schedule at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 15 October.

23 races were originally planned for this year but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has seen the 2021 calendar reduced to a current total of 22 events.

The plan is for the 2022 F1 season to conclude earlier than this year’s world championship, which will run until 12 December.

“The plan is that we are going to have 23 races. We are going to announce the calendar at the World Council on the 15th of October,” Domenicali said.

“And the idea is to finish earlier than when we finished this year.”

Domenicali confirmed that the French Grand Prix will take place next year and also addressed reports linking South Africa with a return to F1, revealing interest from the Kyalami circuit.

"We received interest from Kyalami to be back in the calendar," he added.

"Of course, we have discussed with them in order to see if they are ready from the technical perspective, the financial perspective, to be inserted in the calendar, so discussions are there.

"We have received other requests from other countries in Africa. In this moment, I need to keep it confidential.”