Everything to Know About the F1 Sprint Race Before the Chinese Grand Prix
The F1 Sprint will return to action this weekend for the first time in the 2024 Formula One season at the Chinese Grand Prix. With a small tweak to last year’s format and schedule—and five more sprint races coming later in the campaign—here’s what you need to know before the drivers take to the grid on Saturday.
What is the F1 Sprint?
The F1 Sprint first debuted in 2021 and was designed to facilitate an all-out sprint to the checkered flag. Each race is 100 kilometers (approximately 62.1 miles), about one-third the length of a standard race, and lasts about 30 minutes. Drivers aren’t required to make any pit stops, meaning there’s added incentive and emphasis to overtake out on the track, especially with additional points for the weekend on the line.
How many points can drivers earn in the F1 Sprint?
Just like a standard Sunday race, teams and drivers earn points for placing well in the abridged sprint format. However, unlike 10 drivers earning points for placing in the top half of the field in a full-length race, only eight finishers earn points in the sprint, making starting position all the more important.
The points are awarded as follows: 1st (eight points), 2nd (seven points), 3rd (six points), 4th (five points), 5th (four points), 6th (three points), 7th (two points) and 8th (one point). Though not the end-all-be-all for each Grand Prix, the points add an early cushion for drivers seeking to get the most out of the weekend as a whole.
How does the F1 Sprint affect the schedule of a regular race weekend?
Similar to qualifying on Saturday to set the starting grid for Sunday’s main event, the sprint race features its own qualifying event. As a result, the structure of the typical Grand Prix weekend has to be adapted.
Beginning on Friday, teams will continue to have one free practice session, but unlike a typical weekend (which features three such sessions), that will be the last opportunity for drivers to take the track without something at stake. New to this season, sprint qualifying (known last year as the sprint shootout) will replace FP2 and set the grid for the sprint race, set to take place on Saturday morning in the usual FP3 spot.
Drivers won’t have long to bask in their sprint successes or stew in disappointments as qualifying for the Grand Prix will then take place on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday’s race.
Where and when are the F1 sprints in 2024?
Six racetracks will host sprints this season, beginning in Shanghai, and each one was chosen because of its ability to get the most out of the sprint format (ie. more overtakes). In two weeks, the Miami Grand Prix will host another sprint session, as the format makes its debut in the Sunshine State.
From there, Brazil will host a sprint weekend for the fourth time, while Austria (third), Qatar (second) and Austin (second) will return as hosts for the burgeoning format.
Max Verstappen, winner of seven of the 12 sprint races in F1 history and the current world championship leader, will look to add to his dominant start to the season at this weekend’s sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix. Stateside, the sprint race is set to take place at 11 p.m. ET on Friday evening before the Grand Prix begins early Sunday morning at 3 a.m. ET.
