How Does the F1 Sprint Race Weekend Format Work?

With three Sprint weekends – in Austin, São Paulo, and Qatar – still to come in 2024, here’s a reminder of what to expect from F1’s shortened race format.

The Schedule

The Sprint weekend is made up of two sessions. Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint Race itself.

Sprint Qualifying takes place on Friday afternoon and replaces FP2 from the normal weekend schedule.

The Sprint Race then follows on Saturday morning – replacing FP3 – before the F1 weekend concludes as normal with Grand Prix Qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Format

Like traditional Qualifying, Sprint Quali is split into three sessions – SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3, which last 12 minutes, 10 minutes, and eight minutes respectively.

The slowest five drivers are eliminated after SQ1 to determine who starts P16-20, and a further five are eliminated after SQ2 to set the grid for P15-P11.

As with Grand Prix Qualifying, the top 10 then enter a shootout to set the rest of the grid for the Sprint Race.

Races are 100km long, and drivers do not need to make a pitstop – except for damage or in the event of changeable weather conditions.

There is a one-hour window designated in the F1 weekend schedule in which to run the Sprint.

Are Points Awarded?

Yes, points are awarded from the F1 Sprint race to the top eight finishers: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

There is no point awarded for fastest lap. The top three from the Sprint race receive a plaque in parc fermé, but do not count as an official F1 podium. Winning the Sprint race also does not count as a Grand Prix victory.

What Has Happened So Far in 2024…

Three Sprint races have taken place already in 2024, in China, Miami, and Austria.

Lewis claimed a P2 finish in Shanghai and scored points at a Grand Prix for the 300^th time at Spielberg in June.

And What Is Still To Come in 2024?

Three F1 Sprint races remain on the calendar this season, in Austin (19 laps), Sao Paulo (24 laps), and Qatar (19 laps).

COTA and Qatar will host a Sprint weekend for the second year in a row, while Interlagos maintains its run of hosting the format every year since its introduction in 2021.

Did You Know?

Mercedes has won three Sprint races since the format was first used at Silverstone in 2021.

Valtteri Bottas twice triumphed on Saturday in 2021 at Monza and Interlagos, while George tasted Sprint race success at Interlagos in 2022, before going on to claim his first Grand Prix win a day later.