Get the lowdown on the Formula 1 Sprint weekend format for the upcoming 2026 season. This year, six out of the 24 Formula 1 race weekends will feature the Sprint format, with new additions including Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore, as well as the return of the British Grand Prix as a Sprint round for the first time since 2021. The Sprint format, which was introduced in the 2021 season, features a shortened Saturday race and is designed to increase excitement on tracks known for overtaking, providing fans with competitive track sessions throughout the weekend.
Initially limited to three venues per season, the number of Sprint weekends has grown to six, featuring a revised schedule with its own qualifying session on Friday and a 100km race on Saturday, where crucial extra world championship points are up for grabs. A typical Sprint weekend kicks off with a single one-hour free practice session on Friday, followed by Sprint Qualifying.
Saturday's action begins with the 100km Sprint contest, followed by full Qualifying to set the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. The Friday session to determine the Sprint grid follows the same knockout rules as full Qualifying but with shorter durations to minimize engine and tyre wear. Each car is limited to one flying lap per session, although two runs are permitted in SQ1, and SQ2 and SQ3 allow for two timed laps without a pit stop. Notably, Sprint Qualifying has restrictions on tyre usage, with drivers only allowed to use one set of tyres per part.
A new set of medium tyres is mandatory in SQ1 and SQ2, while a set of soft tyres is required in SQ3. The points system for the Sprint remains unchanged, with a total of 36 points available for the top eight finishers in Saturday's race. Given the short duration of the Sprint, pit stops are rare, and drivers can choose any tyre compound they prefer.
The current Sprint schedule provides teams with an opportunity to make setup changes to their cars after Saturday's Sprint, before being locked in again for Sunday's race.