F1® Sprint Race: What is it and how does it work?

F1 sprint races are back this season too. Three sprint races were held for the first time in the 2021 season, and Formula 1’s 2025 season includes not three, but six sprint races. With this year even more speed, even more excitement and even more points. In this blog, we explain the main rules, how the points are distributed and give you an overview of the 2025 season’s sprint races.

1) F1 Sprint Races points
2) F1 Sprint Races rules
3) How long are the F1 Sprint Races
4) Where and when do the Sprint Races take place
5) Sprint Races F1 2025

What is ‘F1 Sprint Race qualifying’ and how does it work?

A Formula 1 sprint race is like a shortened version of a regular race. Formula 1 wants to build more excitement into a race weekend with these sprints. In about a third of the laps, the drivers fight for the first starting spot. A race weekend with a sprint race does look different from one without. This is because qualifying for the sprint race takes place on Friday. This works the same as a ‘normal’ qualifying session.

The Sprint Race itself is on Saturday, in the afternoon. The sprint differs from a classic race in two ways. We already mentioned that it is shorter : during a Sprint Race, the pilots drive about a third of the laps they do at the Grand Prix. In addition, pit stops and tyre changes are not mandatory.

Again this year, drivers will be able to earn some points in the sprint races. However, this is going to be different from last year. Back then, the points were distributed only among the first three places. The points for the 2022 sprint races are for number 1 to 8. The driver who finishes in first place during the sprint race gets 8 points, number 2 gets 7 points, number 3 gets 6 points and so on up to eighth place. This is more points than last season and might be a gamechanger in the competition.

The points distribution for the F1 Sprint Races is as follows:

Points F1 Sprint Race

In terms of rules, there is another change from the 2021 season. The winner of the Saturday sprint race will be allowed to start in first position in the Sunday race. In fact, the final order of the Sprint race is also the starting order of the Sunday race. However, the winner of the sprint race will not get an official pole position to his name. This is for the winner of the Friday’s sprint race qualifying.

Drivers who crash during the F1 Sprint Races face the same consequences as in a ‘normal’ race. They simply have to start from the backfield. However, Formula 1 teams do get extra budget if there is damage to the car. So there are slightly different rules, but the same circuit and speeds.

The F1 Sprint Races are about a third the length of Sunday’s GP races. In 100 kilometres, the drivers compete with each other for the first starting spot. And you don’t have to plan a whole afternoon off to watch the sprint races, as the approximate time it takes is 25-30 minutes. A short time in which a lot can happen, so excitement is guaranteed.

Where and when do the Sprint Races take place

The 2024 season featured six different sprint races on the F1 agenda. These are at the Emilia-Romagna, Austrian and Brazilian Grand Prix.

Below is an overview of the dates of the F1 Sprint Races:

Sprint Races F1 2025

For Sprint Races fans, there is good news: they will be back again in the 20225 season! For the upcoming seasonthere will be six sprints again. These are at the Grand Prix of China, Miami, Belgium, USA, Brazil, and Qatar. Below is an overview of the upcoming season’s sprint races.

How cool would it be to experience the excitement of an F1 sprint race live… Keep an eye on the 2025 offer and get your tickets to your favorite race.

Tickets Formule 1 2025