F1 Sprint 2026

Sprint format, points system and list of sprint weekends in the 2026 season

Formula 1 sprint races are short, high-intensity events covering roughly 100 km - about one-third of a full Grand Prix distance. Sprints typically last 25 to 30 minutes with no mandatory pit stops, making them flat-out dashes from lights to flag.

Sprint weekends follow a compressed schedule. Friday features a single practice session followed by Sprint Qualifying, which sets the grid for Saturday's sprint. Regular Qualifying then takes place on Saturday afternoon to determine the Sunday race grid. This format replaces two of the three standard practice sessions.

Points are awarded to the top eight finishers in a sprint: 8 points for first place, scaling down to 1 point for eighth. There is no bonus point for fastest lap. The 2026 season features 6 sprint weekends spread across the calendar, giving teams extra opportunities to score in the championship.

Standard Weekend

Friday
First Practice (FP1)
Second Practice (FP2)
Saturday
Third Practice (FP3)
Qualifying
Sunday
Race

Sprint Weekend

Friday
First Practice (FP1)
Sprint Qualifying
Saturday
Sprint
Qualifying
Sunday
Race

Sprint Points

1. 8 pts
2. 7 pts
3. 6 pts
4. 5 pts
5. 4 pts
6. 3 pts
7. 2 pts
8. 1 pt

2026 Sprint Weekends

R2 China Chinese GP 13-15 March 2026 R6 USA Miami GP 1-3 May 2026 R7 Canada Canadian GP 22-24 May 2026 R11 Great Britain British GP 3-5 July 2026 R14 Netherlands Dutch GP 21-23 August 2026 R18 Singapore Singapore GP 9-11 October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sprint in Formula 1?

An F1 sprint is a short race over a distance of 100 km (about 1/3 of a Grand Prix distance), held on Saturday before the main race. The sprint lasts about 25-30 minutes and is an additional element of the show on selected weekends.

How many points are awarded for an F1 sprint?

In an F1 sprint, the top 8 drivers score points: 1st place - 8 pts, 2nd place - 7 pts, 3rd place - 6 pts, 4th place - 5 pts, 5th place - 4 pts, 6th place - 3 pts, 7th place - 2 pts, 8th place - 1 pt. There is no additional point for the fastest lap.

What does an F1 sprint weekend schedule look like?

A sprint weekend differs from a standard one. Friday: First practice (FP1) + Sprint Qualifying. Saturday: Sprint + Qualifying for the main race. Sunday: Main race. In a sprint weekend there is only one practice session instead of three.

How many sprint weekends are there in the F1 2026 season?

The 2026 season features 6 sprint weekends: Chinese GP, Miami GP, Canadian GP, British GP, Dutch GP, Singapore GP.

How does sprint qualifying differ from regular qualifying?

Sprint Qualifying follows the same format as regular qualifying - three segments Q1, Q2, Q3 with elimination. The difference is that it only determines the starting grid for the sprint, not for the main race.