F1 Sprint Weekends
Six weekends in 2026 feature an additional sprint race on Saturday, with a condensed format that reshuffles the traditional Grand Prix weekend schedule.
What is a Sprint Weekend?
A sprint weekend compresses the usual three-day format and adds a shorter race on Saturday. Instead of three practice sessions, teams get one. The rest of the weekend is racing.
Standard Weekend
Sprint Weekend
Sprint Points
The top 8 finishers in the sprint race score points: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. No fastest lap bonus. Sprint results do not affect the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix, which is set by Saturday's qualifying session.
Why Sprint Weekends Matter for Timezone Planning
Sprint weekends mean more action to watch. If you're setting an alarm for a race in a different timezone, you now have two races to plan for instead of one. The sprint on Saturday is typically at a different time than Sunday's Grand Prix, so check both start times in your timezone.
2026 Sprint Weekends
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an F1 sprint weekend?
A sprint weekend replaces the traditional Friday practice session with a sprint qualifying and adds a shorter sprint race on Saturday before the main Grand Prix on Sunday. Points are awarded to the top 8 finishers in the sprint.
How many sprint races are there in F1 2026?
The 2026 F1 season has 6 sprint weekends: China, Miami, Canada, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Singapore.
How many points are awarded in an F1 sprint?
Sprint race points are awarded to the top 8 finishers: 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 from first to eighth place. No extra point is awarded for fastest lap in the sprint.
What is the F1 sprint weekend schedule?
Friday: Practice 1 (60 min) then Sprint Qualifying. Saturday: Sprint Race (100km, roughly 30 minutes) then Qualifying for the Grand Prix. Sunday: Grand Prix.
When is the next F1 sprint race in 2026?
The 2026 F1 sprint weekends are at Chinese (2026-03-15), Miami (2026-05-03), Canadian (2026-05-24), British (2026-07-05), Dutch (2026-08-23), Singapore (2026-10-11).