After a run at Silverstone, Formula 1 sprint qualifying will be tested twice more in 2021, which could potentially pave the way for this to become a more regular feature on the calendar.
The move has been made by the FIA and FOM to try and add another dimension to the Grand Prix weekend, and ultimately improve the fan experience throughout the three days of action.
By shaking up the weekend’s schedule to include meaningful sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hopes this move will keep up fan interest through all three days of a Grand Prix event.
“When we went public with the news that we wanted to try out a sprint qualification like this, the organisers who are eligible for the test immediately got a lot more ticket requests. And the TV broadcasters were thrilled,” Domenicali said as the idea was proposed.
“This format brings many advantages: The less time for free practice sessions, the more action on the track.
“If we don’t try it, we will never know if it is an asset or not.”
This is not the first time Formula 1 has tried to invigorate a Grand Prix calendar, trialling a double points race at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and testing a knockout qualifying format back in 2016 – both of which ultimately failed and the sport reverted to the current formats.
With three test events in 2021, fan feedback will be a big factor in whether or not the sprint races will continue into 2022 and beyond.
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What is sprint qualifying and how will it work?
Sprint qualifying will replace a standard qualifying session on a Saturday and will ultimately set up the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Here’s how they can be best explained:
The format will see all the drivers qualify in a standard Q1, Q2 and Q3 session on a Friday afternoon to form the grid for the sprint qualifying, which will take place on a Saturday.
The races will take place over a shortened 100km distance (compared to the standard race distance of 300km plus one lap for a Grand Prix), which should equate to a race of around 30 minutes. Pit stops will not be mandatory during these sessions, making it a straight fight to the line.
Formula 1 bosses have stressed throughout the process of designing this format that reverse grids willnot be an option in sprint qualifying.
What this change will do is reduce the amount of practice time the teams will have to perfect their set-ups for a race weekend, which will encourage teams to do as much running as possible in Free Practice sessions.
The top three drivers in the F1 sprint race will each receive World Championship points (three for the winner, two for second place and one for third place), but a podium ceremony will not take place. Over the course of a season, those points could ultimately make a significant difference in who becomes World Champion.
In terms of official statistics, the winner of sprint qualifying will officially receive pole position for Sunday’s race.
With the structure of a race weekend changing to accommodate sprint qualifying, here is how the schedule will look at these events:
Friday
- Free Practice 1 (60 minutes)
- Qualifying (Standard Q1, Q2, Q3 format to set the grid for the sprint race)
Saturday
- Free Practice 2 (60 minutes)
- Sprint qualifying (100km race to form the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix)
Sunday
- Grand Prix (contested as normal)
When and where do F1 sprint races take place?
The British Grand Prix was the first host back in July, and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza (10th-12th September) is the second.
Should it go ahead, the third trial event would be held at the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos (5th-7th November) but, because of the continuing outbreak of Covid-19 in Brazil, the race is in serious doubt.
Italian Grand Prix weekend schedule (all session times BST)
Friday 10th September
FP1: 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Qualifying: 5pm – 6pm
Saturday 11th September
FP2: 11am – 12noon
Sprint qualifying: 3.30pm start
Sunday 12th September
Race: 2pm start
How do sprint races affect Parc Ferme conditions?
With the adjustment of the schedule, Parc Ferme conditions will be changed accordingly. For the revised qualifying session on a Friday, only soft tyres will be available to the teams, meaning that the top 10 runners will no longer have to start the race on the set of tyres on which they made it through Q2.
Parc Ferme conditions are currently such that major components cannot be changed on the cars to avoid the running of specialist ‘qualifying cars’ before a race takes place. This will continue to apply in the standard qualifying session before sprint qualifying.
Cars will go into Parc Ferme conditions after FP1, but car reconfiguration will be allowed to take place before FP2 on Saturday to allow the teams to set their cars up for the rest of the weekend.
Where the replacement of a damaged front wing to use a previous version of the part would have incurred a penalty, this stipulation will be removed if the damage takes place in sprint qualifying.
Along with this, teams will be able to change brake friction materials, including brake ducts, for a new, identical set used in qualifying or sprint qualifying ahead of the Grand Prix, for safety reasons.
Should the ambient temperature change by 10°C or more between sessions, allowances have been made for the teams to adjust power unit and gearbox cooling configurations within the cars, along with the alteration of weight distribution.
A comprehensive list of what will and won’t be allowed to change on the cars is yet to be released.
What are F1’s plans for sprint races beyond 2021?
No firm plans have been made as yet for the sprint qualifying format as to whether or not they will continue beyond the 2021 season.
The three test events will give the FIA and FOM the chance to assess the impact of the sessions, but F1’s managing director of motorsports, Ross Brawn has confirmed that they are prepared to ditch the idea if they do not work.
If the format proves successful, however, Brawn hopes to add more sprint qualifying sessions to the calendar from 2022 – but not at every race.
“I’m not sure this format would be as successful at Monaco,” he said. “We’re considering these weekends being grand slam events, spread through the season, so it is something different.
“I don’t think it’ll go to the whole season. I think it’ll be a limited number of races, but that is to be decided.”
The overall aim of holding a sprint race at selected events will be to add to what fans can expect to see throughout the three days of a Formula 1 event.
“We want to give fans engagement throughout the whole weekend,” said Brawn when the sprint qualifying format was unanimously approved by the teams.
“Sunday’s Grand Prix is fantastic, and we don’t want to cannibalise that, but we want to lift up the engagement on a Friday and a Saturday.
“Friday is really for the aficionados at the moment. Watching practice sessions on Friday is fun but there is no conclusion to it. But on a Friday now [at these selected events], we’ll have the excitement of the qualifying format.”
FAQs
How will F1 sprint race work? ›
Points for the Sprint in 2023 remain unchanged from 2022. A total of 36 points are on offer for the top eight finishers in Saturday's race. The winner will collect eight points, second place will score seven points and this continues descending down to eighth (one point).
How does F1 sprint work 2023? ›As opposed to previous seasons, the Sprint results in 2023 will have no effect on the starting grid for the Grand Prix. In practice, what that means is that this year, Friday will see a single session before qualifying commences, which in turn will set the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Where are the F1 sprints? ›The sprints are set to be hosted in Azerbaijan (Baku City Circuit), Austria (Red Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), Qatar (Lusail Circuit), the United States (Circuit of The Americas) and Sao Paulo (Interlagos). The Red Bull Ring in Austria held its first sprint in July 2022 and will return for a second in 2023.
Where are the sprint races F1 2023? ›Formula One has announced the six sprint venues for 2023 with Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin race in the United States and Qatar all joining Austria and Brazil.
Does the sprint race decide the grid? ›Last year, qualifying determined the grid for F1 Sprint – and the result of that dash created the grid for Sunday's showpiece Grand Prix. For 2023, there will be two qualifying sessions. The first will still take place on Friday, but that session will determine the grid for Sunday.
Is there a point for fastest lap in sprint race? ›As well as the one extra point for a fastest lap, sprint qualifying also awards points. So with 24 races scheduled for the 2023 season plus the sprints, there is a maximum total of 672 points available for a driver to score.
What is the point of the F1 sprint shootout? ›The F1 Sprint Shootout will act as a standalone qualifying session for the sprint race and will take prior to said event on the Saturday of the designated race weekend. Interestingly, drivers have to use certain tyres in certain sessions during the Sprint Shootout.
What will F1 look like in 2023? ›F1 will hold its biggest-ever calendar in 2023, with 23 races scheduled for next season, up from the 22 races held in 2022 – which was initially set to be 23 races before the Russian GP was cancelled.
What to expect for F1 2023? ›Formula 1 can confirm that the 2023 season will consist of 23 races. That means the season will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5, and finish up in Abu Dhabi on November 26, with the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix joining the calendar a week before the season finale.
What are the six sprint races in 2023? ›The confirmed locations for F1 Sprint events in 2023 are:
FORMULA 1 QATAR GRAND PRIX 2023 (Lusail International Circuit) 06 – 08 October. FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2023 (Circuit of the Americas) 20–22 October. FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2023 (AutÓdromo José Carlos Pace) 3–5 November.
How many sprint races are in F1 season? ›
F1 says its research into the six sprint weekends over the past two years is that there is a major increases in both audiences and engagements on a Friday when fans are offered qualifying over a practice event.
What are the new sprint races? ›- Azerbaijan Grand Prix - 28–30 April.
- Austrian Grand Prix - 30 June–2 July.
- Belgian Grand Prix - 28–30 July.
- Qatar Grand Prix - 6 –8 October.
- United States Grand Prix - 20–22 October.
- Sao Paulo Grand Prix - 3–5 November.
Updated 13:35 2nd December: For the third year running Formula 1 has had to ammend its calendar due to Covid-19 restrictions, after the series confirmed that the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in April, will no longer take place.
What American F1 tracks are in 2023? ›The calendar continues to grow, after the Las Vegas Grand Prix was announced for the 2023 season, making it the third American circuit on the calendar, after Austin and Miami.
Where is the 3rd F1 sprint race? ›Latest. The F1 Commission has approved plans to run the F1 Sprint format at three Grand Prix weekends – at Imola, the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos – in 2022.
Are pit stops mandatory in F1? ›At least one pit stop in every race is compulsory. Drivers must use at least two tire compounds during an F1 race. Teams have five types of tires available: softs, mediums, hards, intermediates and wets. The two-tire rule is only altered when it comes to a wet race.
How many races are included in sprint fast races? ›The F1 confirmed the calendar will be made up of 23 races and 6 of those will have the sprint race format which was introduced in 2021. This is double the amount of sprint races we saw in 2022, which were at the Emilia Romagna, Austrian, and Brazilian Grand Prix.
What does P mean in F1 leaderboard? ›Paddock, The
Typically an area behind the pits. Location of team hospitality suites and where the majority of media work, wheeler-dealing and all-round general showing off takes place during a race weekend.
Formula One distributes the total profit to all the teams. Nonetheless, drivers don't receive any prize money because they are, instead, paid salaries by the teams they drive for or their constructors.
How many sprint weekends are there? ›The new format, which was voted through by the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday, will be used at the six Sprint weekends taking place this season, the first of which is this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Why do F1 drivers do laps before the race? ›
The formation lap gives drivers a chance to warm up their tyres and brakes, and it has helped cut down considerably on the number of first-corner crashes that used to be less rare.
What happens if you don't pit stop F1? ›What happens if you don't pit in F1? You will be disqualified from the race if you don't pit in F1. A rule was added in 2011 that required teams to change tire compounds during a race, coinciding with Pirelli's introduction as the official tire sponsor.
What is the difference between sprint and sprint shootout? ›The sprint shootout is the event that forms the grid for the sprint race. In simpler words, the grid setter for the sprint race, similar to race qualifying, usually takes place on Saturday.
Why are all the new F1 cars black? ›Of course, when we changed the livery in 2020 the main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart. The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it.
What is the fuel temperature in F1? ›For the first five races of this season with the new cars it was agreed by the teams and the FIA to peg minimum fuel temperature at 18 degrees - in effect using a notional 28 degrees ambient for Bahrain, Jeddah, Melbourne, Imola and Miami.
Is Audi joining F1? ›READ MORE: Audi to join Formula 1 from 2026
Audi will create their power unit at their base in Neuburg in Germany – where already more than 120 people are working on the project – while Sauber will develop and manufacture their race car at their headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland.
Cheapest F1 2023 Tickets
The Average cost of a 3-day General Admission ticket costs $242. The Cheapest tickets would be for the Emilia Romagna GP in Imola and the Hungarian GP, which cost close to $100. Austria, Monza, Saudi and Japan cost under $150.
Lewis Hamilton has no 'plan' to leave Mercedes after poor start to 2023 Formula 1 season | F1 News.
Which is the best F1 race to attend 2023? ›- Las Vegas Grand Prix. ...
- Monaco Grand Prix. ...
- Italian Grand Prix. ...
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix. ...
- Singapore Grand Prix. ...
- Miami Grand Prix. ...
- British Grand Prix. ...
- Circuit of The Americas.
The sprints are set to be hosted in Azerbaijan (Baku City Circuit), Austria (Red Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), Qatar (Lusail Circuit), the United States (Circuit of The Americas) and Sao Paulo (Interlagos).
Is Spa a sprint race? ›
Formula 1 has announced the locations for its six sprint races in 2023 as Baku and Spa join the expanded roster for next year.
What is the format for the F1 sprint? ›The sprint shootout follows the same elimination format as grand prix qualifying but has shorter sessions: 12min for the first where all 20 drivers set a time and the five slowest are eliminated; 10min for the second where another five are eliminated; and then 8min for the final sprint qualifying 3 (SQ3 session).
Is a sprint race a grand prix? ›The sprint is a shortened version of the grand prix, 100km of the circuit -- in Baku that will equate to 17 laps.
Why are F1 changing the sprint format? ›Formula 1 introduced the Sprint concept in 2021, though opinion over whether or not it is an improvement on the normal weekend format remains divided. F1 chief Stefano Domenicali explained the reason for the change is to increase entertainment for fans.
What are the changes to F1 sprint weekend? ›- SQ1 for all 20 drivers will be 12 minutes.
- SQ2 for the remaining 15 drivers will be 10 minutes.
- SQ3 for the remaining top ten drivers will be 8 minutes.
It consists of three sessions, of 12 minutes, 10 minutes, and 8 minutes duration respectively. Drivers will run mediums in SQ1 and SQ2, switching to softs for SQ3. With sprint races now treated as self-contained, penalties have been tweaked as well.
Why no F1 races in April? ›The Shanghai race, originally scheduled for April 16, has been axed for the fourth year in a row due to strict local measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. "I don't want to have that break, because you know which race was missing from that break," said Alfa Romeo's Guanyu Zhou, the sport's only Chinese driver.
Will F1 return to Miami in 2023? ›In 2023, Greater Miami & Miami Beach will once again hold one of the 22 glittering grand prix races of the world's premier auto racing series, Formula 1.
Which 3 Formula One grand prix races will be staged in 2023 that weren t staged in 2022? ›The calendar continues to grow, after the Las Vegas Grand Prix was announced for the 2023 season, making it the third American circuit on the calendar, after Austin and Miami. The latter of this made its debut in the 2022 season.
What is the most exciting F1 track? ›1. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. The ultimate F1 circuit has to be the legendary Spa which has been an F1 staple for much of the sport's 70-year history. At 4.3 miles, it is the longest track on the calendar and one of the most thrilling for drivers and spectators in terms of corners.
What is the hardest track in F1 2023? ›
Given the humidity, low average speed and 23 tough corners, Singapore is the track the drivers train hardest for all year, and there's good reason for it.
What is the easiest Formula 1 track? ›What is the simplest F1 track? The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, also known as the Imola circuit and located in Italy, is often considered to be one of the easier Formula 1 tracks. The 4.909 kilometer track is quite short, making it an ideal choice for a rookie driver.
Where are the F1 sprint races 2023? ›F1 Sprint dates in 2023
Qatar will host the fourth Sprint of the year on October 7 before the US GP's Circuit of the Americas hosts its first Sprint weekend on October 21. And Brazil's Interlagos will continue its record of being the only circuit to host the format since its inception on November 4.
Formula 1 has announced there will be six sprint races on the 2023 calendar, which is double the number that took place during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Where is the fastest F1 track? ›Monza - Grand Prix Circuit
First constructed in 1922, the track has evolved through several layouts, including the now-unused banking section, but still remains the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar.
F1's minimum ride heights have been raised by 15mm, while the diffuser throat has also been raised to accommodate the aforementioned change. There will be new sensors installed to measure the car's vertical forces accurately - something that was initially introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix.
How long until F1 2023 season starts? ›Starting on 5 March with the Bahrain Grand Prix, the 2023 F1 season will see the return of the Qatar Grand Prix in October while a new Saturday night race in Las Vegas will be the penultimate round on 18 November. The season will finish with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 26 November.
How many F1 races in 2023? ›We should have had eight races so far in 2023, but the cancellation of the Emilia Romanga Grand Prix in the wake of horrific weather conditions means the calendar has been reduced to 22 races. The season began in Bahrain in early March and will close in Abu Dhabi in late November.
What engine is changing in F1 2023? ›After an F1 Commission meeting ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, approval was given to an increase in the number of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Turbo Charger, MGU-H, and MGU-K elements for 2023 from three to four per driver.
What engine will the F1 cars have in 2023? ›Starting in 2023, all cars will be required to have 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged hybrid engines, which can be selected from a manufacturer of their choosing. This marks a significant reduction from the V8 2.6-litre engines utilized between 2006 and 2013, and the pre-2006 3-litre V10s.
Who is Audi replacing in F1? ›
“This is an important milestone on the way to Audi's entry in Formula One, scheduled for 2026, for which the Sauber Group will be the German brand's strategic partner,” Sauber said in a statement. Sauber will run with Ferrari power units in 2024 and 2025, before Audi steps in.
Is Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes in 2023? ›Hamilton is currently without a contract for the 2024 F1 season, with his deal at Mercedes coming to an end at the conclusion of the '23 championship.
What is Mick Schumacher doing in 2023? ›The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is delighted to confirm that Mick Schumacher will join the Team in the role of Reserve Driver for 2023.
How much are Formula 1 tickets? ›Formula 1 tickets for races during the 2023 season are found in a price range between $10.00 and $52250.00. The average price for a ticket to a single race during the 2023 season is around $1342.10. The Formula 1: 2023 Spanish Grand Prix - Sunday event will take place on June 4th, 2023 at 1:00pm.
Who is televising F1 in 2023? ›ESPN is the exclusive home of Formula One in the U.S. in 2023. ESPN will show every session of every race across the season, commercial-free, on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.
Is F1 2023 out yet? ›Formula 1 and Electronic Arts have also announced that F1 23 will include new features including the brand-new Las Vegas Grand Prix, the returning Qatar Grand Prix and much more. F1 23 will release across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store and Steam, on June 16.
Who is changing teams in F1 2023? ›It has finally been confirmed that Oscar Piastri will replace the outgoing Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren for 2023. Following weeks of rumour and speculation surroudning the 2021 Formula 2 champion, the current Alpine reserve driver will make the jump into an F1 race seat next season.