Formula 1 Introduces New Standalone Sprint Race Format

The FIA Formula 1 World Championship introduced Saturday sprint races in 2021, originally called “Sprint Qualifying” to distinguish it from the main race on Sunday. The new format was divisive and confusing for fans. Traditional qualifying was still held to determine the starting order for the sprint race, but the sprint’s results would then set the Sunday starting grid and the sprint race winner was credited with a pole position. So, F1 has now decided to make the sprint race a standalone event within a Grand Prix weekend.

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Formula 1’s new Sprint format will see Saturday’s practice session scrapped for a second qualifying session specifically for the sprint race. Friday will still include a free practice session and qualifying for Sunday’s race. Saturday will be solely devoted to the Sprint. The day will open with the Sprint Shootout, the sprint race’s qualifying session, and the Sprint itself. The new qualifying session replaces Saturday’s free practice session. Sunday will be unchanged.

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