The thrilling battle for the 2025 Formula 1 drivers` championship is poised for an unprecedented surge of excitement with the inclusion of three Sprint race weekends in the final six rounds of the season.
Currently, Oscar Piastri of McLaren holds a 22-point lead over his teammate Lando Norris in the standings. Red Bull`s Max Verstappen remains a formidable contender, positioned 63 points behind the Australian McLaren driver.
Despite Piastri`s current advantage, the prospect of an additional 24 points available from the 100km Saturday Sprint races in Austin, Sao Paulo, and Qatar significantly boosts Norris`s chances of orchestrating a remarkable championship comeback.
A unique aspect of this year`s racing calendar is the return of the Sprint format at the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Texas. This event marks the first Sprint weekend since the Belgian Grand Prix in July, and the format will be strategically alternated throughout the remaining races of the season.
Under the Sprint weekend structure, drivers participate in only one practice session before Sprint Qualifying takes place on Friday afternoon. The shorter Sprint race is then held on Saturday morning, preceding the traditional full-length Grand Prix Qualifying and the main race, which retain their usual schedule slots.
