Everything you need to know about the 2025 Formula 1 Sprint weekend format.
When and where are the Sprint weekends?
For the 2025 season, six of the 24 Formula 1 race weekends will once again feature the Sprint format:
- March 21-23: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
- May 2-4: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
- July 25-27: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
- October 17-19: United States Grand Prix, Austin
- November 7-9: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sao Paulo
- November 28-30: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
Spa-Francorchamps (which previously hosted a Sprint in 2023) replaces Austria as the year`s third Sprint event, while the other five venues remain the same.
What is Sprint?
Introduced in 2021, the Formula 1 Sprint format features a shorter race on Saturday, designed to enhance excitement on tracks conducive to overtaking and provide competitive on-track action for fans throughout the three-day weekend.
Initially held at three venues per season and expanded to six from 2023, these weekends alter the standard schedule. They include a dedicated Sprint Qualifying session on Friday followed by a 100km Sprint race on Saturday, offering valuable extra world championship points.
The Sprint weekend schedule
Friday
Practice One
Sprint Qualifying
Saturday
Sprint
Grand Prix Qualifying
Sunday
Grand Prix
What is the Sprint weekend format?
There are no changes compared to 2024.
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 starts with the 100km Sprint race, followed later by Grand Prix Qualifying, which determines the starting grid for Sunday`s main race.
How does Sprint Qualifying work?
The Sprint grid is determined by a qualifying session on Friday, using a three-part knockout format similar to regular qualifying, but with shorter durations to manage engine and tire usage.
- SQ1 is 12 minutes
- SQ2 is 10 minutes
- SQ3 is eight minutes
While ideally each car would aim for one flying lap per session, SQ1 allows for two runs, and SQ2 and SQ3 provide enough time for two timed laps without needing a pitstop.
A key difference between Sprint Qualifying and regular qualifying is tire usage restrictions.
Unlike regular qualifying where drivers can use any available tire, Sprint Qualifying (or Shootout) limits drivers to one set of tires per segment.
A new set of medium tires is mandatory for SQ1 and SQ2, while a set of soft tires is mandatory for SQ3 (this set doesn`t have to be new).
What is the point system for the Sprint?
Points for the Sprint in 2025 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
These extra points can be crucial throughout the season; for example, Max Verstappen secured his 2023 world title in the Saturday Sprint race in Qatar.
Are there pit stops in the Sprint?
Pit stops are rare during the Sprint due to its short duration.
Unlike the Grand Prix, there is no mandatory tire change. Teams typically only pit if a car sustains damage, gets a puncture, or if the weather changes.
Drivers can choose to use any tire compound (hard, medium, or soft).
How often can teams change car setup between sessions?
With the current Sprint schedule, teams have a second chance to adjust their car setups during the weekend.
Cars enter parc ferme at the start of Friday`s Sprint Qualifying but are released after the Saturday Sprint race.
This allows teams to use the data from the Sprint to fine-tune their setups before Grand Prix Qualifying, after which the parc ferme rules for Sunday`s race take effect again.
