Everything you need to know about Formula 1’s Sprint weekend format for the 2026 F1 season.
When and where are the Sprint weekends?
Six of F1’s 24 race weekends again run to the Sprint format in the 2026 season:
- March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
- May 1-3: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
- May 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
- July 3-5: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
- August 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
- October 9-11: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
Canada, the Netherlands and Singapore will host Sprint weekends for the first time while the British Grand Prix returns as a Sprint round for the first time since 2021.
What is F1 Sprint?
The Sprint format – with a short-form Saturday race as its centrepiece – was added to the F1 schedule at select events from the 2021 season in a bid to further spice up the action on tracks known to be good for overtaking, while also ensuring competitive track sessions for fans attending the circuit and watching on TV on all three days of the race weekend.
Initially introduced at just three venues per season before growing to six from 2023, such weekends feature a rejigged schedule, with the Sprint having its own qualifying session on Friday before a 100km race on Saturday, in which crucial extra world championship points are on offer.
What is the Sprint weekend format?
Sprint weekends begin with a single free practice session on Friday, which as usual lasts for one hour.
Sprint Qualifying will then follow later on Friday.
Saturday then open with the 100km Sprint contest, with full Qualifying following later in the day, setting the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
How does Sprint Qualifying work?
The Friday session to set the Sprint grid will follow the same format as last season, with each of its three parts running to the same knockout rules as full Qualifying but to shorter durations to address engine and tyre concerns.
- SQ1 is 12 minutes
- SQ2 is 10 minutes
- SQ3 is eight minutes
The initial aim is that each car only has one flying lap in each session, although two runs can be completed in SQ1 while SQ2 and SQ3 do allow time for two timed laps without a pit stop in between attempts.
The other significant difference between Sprint Qualifying and full Qualifying are restrictions on tyre usage in the former.
While drivers are free to use any of their available tyres in regular qualifying, in Sprint Qualifying they are only allowed to run one set of tyres in each part.
A new set of medium tyres is mandatory in SQ1 and SQ2, while a set of soft tyres – new or otherwise – is mandatory in SQ3.
What is the points system for the Sprint?
Points for the Sprint in 2026 remain unchanged.
A total of 36 points are on offer for the top eight finishers in Saturday’s race. This is allocated as follows:
- 1st place – 8 points
- 2nd place – 7 points
- 3rd place – 6 points
- 4th place – 5 points
- 5th place – 4 points
- 6th place – 3 points
- 7th place – 2 points
- 8th place – 1 point
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Highlights of Sprint from the Sao Paulo GP
Are there pit stops in the F1 Sprint?
Pit stops are few and far between given how short a Sprint is.
Unlike the Grand Prix, there is no mandatory change of tyres required and, unless cars suffer damage or puncture or it rains, don’t expect them to leave the action on track for the pit lane between lights out and the chequered flag.
Drivers are free to run on whatever tyre compound – hard, medium or soft – that they wish.
How often can teams change their cars between sessions?
Since the current Sprint schedule was adopted, teams have had a second opportunity to make setup changes to their cars through the weekend.
Cars still go into parc ferme when the first competitive session – Friday’s Sprint Qualifying – begins, but they are then released from the restrictions after Saturday’s Sprint.
Teams have the chance to use the knowledge they’ve gained to alter setups ahead of full Qualifying, at the start of which they will once more be locked in for Sunday’s race.
Formula 1 heads to Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
