F1 Sprint explained: Rules, format, points and winners
Need to know anything about the F1 Sprint format? We have you covered.
Singapore will host the final Sprint race of the F1 2026 season, the last of six, with a maximum of eight points up for grabs.
F1 Sprint weekends fundamentally alter the structure of how a Grand Prix takes place, as well as the points on offer to the drivers. If you are new to the format or need a refresher on how it works, here is all you need to know about the F1 Sprint.
What is the F1 Sprint format?
Introduced in 2021 as a way of spicing up the Grand Prix weekend format and bringing meaningful action to each day of a race weekend, the F1 Sprint was brought in at three race weekends – upped to six in 2023 – with World Championship points on offer.
Three hours of practice are reduced to one, with the weekend structure having been fundamentally altered once again in 2024, but it has stayed in place for 2025.
The Sprint Shootout sets the grid, before the F1 Sprint takes place over a one-third race distance, or around 100km.
How is the F1 Sprint weekend structured?
Instead of Fridays being reserved for two free practice sessions, F1 Sprint weekends see just one free practice session before the Sprint Shootout later on Friday.
In a change from 2023 rules, the 2024 season saw Saturdays have the Sprint take place as the first session in the day, before Grand Prix qualifying later on – which has stayed in place for 2025.
This was done to open up parc fermé regulations over the weekend, allowing the teams to make changes to their cars after the Sprint race and before qualifying if they choose to do so, as under the previous rules, their car setups were locked after only one hour of practice.
Here is what a typical F1 Sprint weekend looks like:
Friday
FP1 [60 minutes]
Sprint Qualifying [44 minutes, SQ1/SQ2/SQ3 format]
Saturday
F1 Sprint [100km or one hour maximum]
Qualifying [60 minutes, Q1/Q2/Q3 format]
Sunday
Grand Prix
What is Sprint Qualifying?
Introduced in 2023 as the Sprint Shootout and renamed Sprint Qualifying for 2024, this session sets the grid for the F1 Sprint over a shortened version of the Formula 1 qualifying format, with the bottom six being eliminated at the end of each session.
Instead of Q1 being 18 minutes, Q2 being 15 minutes and Q3 being 12 minutes, these times are condensed, with seven-minute intervals between sessions.
Rather than a free tyre choice, compounds are mandated by session as well.
SQ1: 12 minutes [medium tyres]
SQ2: 10 minutes [medium tyres]
SQ3: 8 minutes [soft tyres]
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Do drivers have to pit during the F1 Sprint?
No, unlike in full dry races, pit stops are not mandatory for the drivers.
What points are on offer in F1 Sprint?
Points were initially only available to the top three finishers in F1 Sprint, but that was extended to the top eight finishers to offer more incentive to drivers – though they are reduced from the usual offering.
Drivers’ Championship points are as follows for F1 Sprints:
1st: 8 points
2nd: 7 points
3rd: 6 points
4th: 5 points
5th: 4 points
6th: 3 points
7th: 2 points
8th: 1 point
Where are the F1 Sprint weekends in the 2026 season?
The dates at which Sprints are taking place in 2026 are as follows:
March 13-15 : China – Shanghai
May 1-3 : USA – Miami
May 22-24 : Canada – Montreal
July 3-5 : Great Britain – Silverstone
August 21-23 : Netherlands – Zandvoort
October 9-11 : Singapore – Singapore
Who are the F1 Sprint winners in the 2026 season?
China – George Russell
USA – Lando Norris
Canada – George Russell
Great Britain – Kimi Antonelli
Netherlands – George Russell
Singapore – TBD
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