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 (Winner: George Russell)
– 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 to add action at tracks known for overtaking and to ensure competitive sessions across all three days of a race weekend. Initially introduced at three venues per season before growing to six from 2023, Sprint weekends feature a rejigged schedule, with the Sprint having its own qualifying session on Friday before a 100km race on Saturday, in which extra world championship points are on offer.
The Sprint weekend schedule
Friday
– Practice One
– Sprint Qualifying
Saturday
– Sprint
– Grand Prix Qualifying
Sunday
– Grand Prix
What is the Sprint weekend format?
Sprint weekends begin with a single free practice session on Friday, lasting one hour. Sprint Qualifying follows later on Friday. Saturday opens with the 100km Sprint contest, with full Qualifying 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 follows the same three-part knockout format as full Qualifying but with shorter durations:
– SQ1: 12 minutes
– SQ2: 10 minutes
– SQ3: 8 minutes
The initial aim is that each car only has one flying lap in each session, although two runs can be completed in SQ1 and SQ2 and SQ3 allow time for two timed laps without a pit stop between attempts. Sprint Qualifying also imposes tyre restrictions: teams may only 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, 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
Are there pit stops in the F1 Sprint?
Pit stops are few given how short a Sprint is. Unlike the Grand Prix, there is no mandatory tyre change and, unless cars suffer damage, a puncture or it rains, teams rarely visit the pits between lights out and the chequered flag. Drivers are free to run on any tyre compound — hard, medium or soft.
How often can teams change their cars between sessions?
Under the current Sprint schedule, teams have a second opportunity to make setup changes during the weekend. Cars go into parc fermé when the first competitive session — Friday’s Sprint Qualifying — begins, but they are released from those restrictions after Saturday’s Sprint. Teams can use the information gathered to alter setups ahead of full Qualifying, at the start of which cars are once more locked in for Sunday’s race.
Formula 1 is in Miami for a Sprint weekend as the 2026 season resumes, watch live on Sky Sports F1 with Sunday’s Grand Prix at 9pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.