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How does a sprint weekend work in f1?
Friday
The Friday of a sprint weekend consists of two sessions, just like a regular race weekend. However, there is a key difference. In a normal race weekend, teams participate in the first and second free practice sessions, but during a sprint weekend, the schedule changes. Teams only get one free practice session to gather data and fine-tune their setup.
Instead of a second free practice session, the sprint qualifying session takes place. This qualifying session determines the starting grid for the sprint race, which is held on Saturday. The format of this sprint qualifying differs from a regular race weekend qualification. Additionally, the session is shorter, and teams are required to use specific tires. More details on that later in the blog!
Saturday
The Saturday of a sprint weekend is arguably the busiest day of all. The day begins with the sprint race, a shorter version of the original Grand Prix. In the past, no points were awarded during the sprint race, and its results determined the starting grid for Sunday's race. However, this is no longer the case. Drivers can now earn points during the sprint race. How many points and the finishing positions required to earn them will be explained later in the blog.
Once the sprint race is completed, the day is far from over. Later on the same day, the qualifying session takes place, determining the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sunday
The Sunday of a sprint weekend does not differ from a regular race weekend. Apart from having had a busier schedule leading up to it, nothing changes. The Grand Prix is the only session held on Sunday. However, this is the most important day of the weekend, as it offers the most points.
The biggest difference between the Grand Prix on Sunday and the sprint race is that the sprint race is much shorter, awards fewer points, and does not feature a podium ceremony, unlike the Grand Prix, which concludes with the traditional podium celebration.
Schedule Grand Prix Weekend
| Session | Day |
|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday |
| Qualifying | Saturday |
| Grand Prix | Sunday |
Schedule Sprint Weekend
| Session | Day |
|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday |
| Sprint Race | Saturday |
| Qualifying | Saturday |
| Grand Prix | Sunday |
How does a sprint qualifying work?
The sprint race follows a format similar to regular qualifying, but with a few twists. All 20 drivers take part in the first session (SQ1) , where the 5 slowest times are eliminated. The remaining 15 then advance to the second session, and again, the 5 slowest drivers are cut. In the final session (SQ3) , just 10 drivers compete for pole position. The first session lasts 12 minutes, the second lasts 10 minutes, and the final one is only 8 minutes long. Another key difference is that drivers don’t get to choose their tyres for the various stages. They must use Medium tyres in the first two sessions, and only the Soft tyre is allowed in the final. Of course, this rule doesn't apply if it's raining.
| Session | Drivers | Minutes | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQ1 | 20 Drivers | 12 minutes | medium tyre |
| SQ2 | 15 Drivers | 10 minutes | medium tyre |
| SQ3 | 10 Drivers | 8 minutes | soft tyre |
What is a F1 sprint race?
A sprint race in Formula 1 is essentially a shorter version of a Grand Prix. Unlike a standard race, which covers a minimum distance of 305 kilometers, a sprint race is only 100 kilometers long. Naturally, this affects the duration—while a full Grand Prix can last well over an hour, a sprint race is completed in around 30 minutes.
The sprint format was first introduced as an experiment in 2021, with events held during the British, Italian, and Brazilian Grands Prix. The following year, three more sprint races took place in Imola, Austria, and Brazil. As the format gained popularity, the number of sprint events increased to six per season, a structure that remains in place for 2025.
Over the years, the sprint format has evolved. Initially, there was no dedicated sprint qualifying session. Instead, teams completed regular practice sessions, and the sprint race took place on Saturday. At that time, no points were awarded for the sprint race, but its results determined the starting grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
However, since there were no points on offer, teams and drivers were often reluctant to take risks, as there wasn’t much to gain. To make the format more competitive, the schedule was revised. Now, the sprint weekend follows this structure: FP1 → Sprint Qualifying → Sprint Race (with points) → Grand Prix Qualifying → Grand Prix.
Points Grand Prix
| Place | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. First | 25 |
| 2. Second | 18 |
| 3. Third | 15 |
| 4. Qualifying | 12 |
| 5. Grand Prix | 10 |
| 6. sixth | 8 |
| 7. Seventh | 6 |
| 8. eighth | 4 |
| 9. Ninth | 2 |
| 10. Tenth | 1 |
Points Sprint Race
| Place | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. First | 8 |
| 2. Second | 7 |
| 3. Third | 6 |
| 4. Qualifying | 5 |
| 5. Grand Prix | 4 |
| 6. sixth | 3 |
| 7. Seventh | 2 |
| 8. eighth | 1 |
| 9. Ninth | 0 |
| 10. Tenth | 0 |
Most drivers aren’t big fans of a sprint weekend because it’s a much busier schedule than usual. There’s only one session to get to know the track and the car, and to fine-tune the setup. It’s more intense for the drivers, but it definitely means more excitement for the fans. Every day features an exciting session, starting with sprint qualifying already on Friday! On Saturday, there’s an extra race, followed by qualifying, and then on Sunday, there’s a second race! So for the fans, it’s all about the spectacle!
Racing Media Girls will be live at the Belgian Grand Prix this year, and yes, it's a sprint weekend in 2025, which means extra excitement and even more live content from Belgium! Make sure to follow Racing Media Girls on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing and can enjoy the spectacle up close!
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