The F1 Sprint format was introduced in 2021 and has since become a regular part of Formula 1 seasons. Learn more about Sprint races, host venues and previous winners.
What is F1 Sprint?
First introduced at the 2021 British Grand Prix, the F1 Sprint format sees an additional race held on Saturday. Around one third of the distance of a normal Grand Prix, Sprint races are usually completed in under half an hour and are an opportunity for drivers to score additional points.
In 2021 and 2022, the Sprint race set the grid for the main Grand Prix. Since 2023, the Sprint events have been standalone races with their own qualifying format.
How Does the F1 Sprint Format Work?
While regular Formula 1 weekends feature three practice sessions, Grand Prix qualifying and the Grand Prix itself, Sprint weekends feature a single practice session, Sprint qualifying, the Sprint race, Grand Prix qualifying and the Grand Prix.
Qualifying for the Sprint takes place on Friday afternoon, after only a single hour of Free Practice. The Sprint race takes place on Saturday morning and is followed by qualifying for the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix itself then takes place as usual on Sunday afternoon.
Points are awarded to the top eight finishers in Sprint races. Eight points are awarded to the winner, seven to the runner-up, six to the driver in third place and so on.
Who Has the Most F1 Sprint Wins?
Max Verstappen has far more Sprint wins than any other driver. As of the end of the 2025 season, Verstappen has triumphed in 13 of the 20 Sprint events held to date. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are second on the list, with three wins apiece. Valtteri Bottas is the only other driver to have won multiple Sprint races, while George Russell, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton each have a single Sprint win.
Which Circuits Have Hosted the Most F1 Sprint Races?
By the end of the 2026 season, 14 different circuits will have hosted F1 Sprint events. That includes Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Zandvoort and Marina Bay Street Circuit – all of which will host Sprint events for the first time in 2026.
Interlagos, host of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, has hosted F1 Sprint races on more occasions than any other circuit. The Brazilian track has been on the Sprint calendar in every season from 2021 to 2025, with 2026 being the first year that Interlagos will not feature on the Sprint schedule.
The Red Bull Ring, COTA and Lusail Circuit are tied for second place on the list, each having hosted three Sprint events. Shanghai International Circuit and Miami International Autodrome will host their third Sprint races in 2026.
| Sprint Events | Circuit | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Interlagos | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| 3 | Red Bull Ring | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 3 | COTA | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| 3 | Lusail Circuit | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| 3* | Shanghai International Circuit | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| 3* | Miami International Autodrome | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| 2 | Spa-Francorchamps | 2023, 2025 |
| 2* | Silverstone | 2021, 2026 |
| 1 | Monza | 2021 |
| 1 | Imola | 2022 |
| 1 | Baku City Circuit | 2023 |
| 1* | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 2026 |
| 1* | Zandvoort | 2026 |
| 1* | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 2026 |
Previous F1 Sprint Calendars
2021 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 British Grand Prix | Silverstone | Max Verstappen |
| 2021 Italian Grand Prix | Monza | Valtteri Bottas |
| 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos | Valtteri Bottas |
F1 Sprint – then called “Sprint Qualifying” – was first introduced in 2021. The new format was officially announced in April 2021, with the British, Italian and Sao Paulo Grands Prix chosen as the three venues at which the new Sprint races would take place.
In its inaugural year, qualifying took place on Friday afternoon after a single hour of practice. A second practice session was held on Saturday morning, before the Sprint – which decided the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix – took place on Saturday afternoon.
Only the top three finishers were awarded points. The winner took three points and was declared the Grand Prix’s polesitter, second place received two points and third place was awarded a single point.
2022 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola | Max Verstappen |
| 2022 Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | Max Verstappen |
| 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos | George Russell |
The Sprint format returned for a second year in 2022, once again taking place at three rounds. The Sprint calendar was revealed in February 2022, with Imola and the Red Bull Ring joining for the first time, while Sao Paulo returned for a second year.
There were a number of tweaks to the format in its sophomore year. Now just called “Sprint” instead of Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint race still set the grid for the Grand Prix but the accolade of pole position would be awarded – in name only – to the driver who was fastest in the Friday qualifying session.
Other changes included an expansion of points-scorers, from three to eight. The number of points on offer was also expanded to eight for the Sprint winner, compared to three in the previous year. Although bosses were keen to expand the Sprint calendar from three to six events, some teams were unhappy with the plans and the Sprint calendar remained at three races.
2023 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | Sergio Perez |
| 2023 Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | Max Verstappen |
| 2023 Belgian Grand Prix | Spa-Francorchamps | Max Verstappen |
| 2023 Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail Circuit | Oscar Piastri |
| 2023 United States Grand Prix | COTA | Max Verstappen |
| 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos | Max Verstappen |
Formula 1 doubled its number of Sprint events in 2023 from three to six. The calendar was revealed in December 2022. Azerbaijan, Austria Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Sao Paulo were confirmed as the six host venues of Sprint events.
The format was altered for 2023, with two qualifying sessions now held on Sprint weekends and the result of the Sprint no longer determining the Grand Prix’s starting grid. Grand Prix qualifying took place after a single hour of practice on Friday afternoon, while Saturdays were devoted to the Sprint. A new “Sprint Shootout” session to determine the Sprint grid took place on Saturday morning, followed by the Sprint race on Saturday afternoon.
2024 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | Max Verstappen |
| 2024 Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | Max Verstappen |
| 2024 Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | Max Verstappen |
| 2024 United States Grand Prix | COTA | Max Verstappen |
| 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos | Lando Norris |
| 2024 Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail Circuit | Oscar Piastri |
For its fourth season, F1 Sprint once again took place at six events – including first Sprint events in China and Miami, and returning venues in Austria, Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar. The calendar was revealed in December 2023.
The weekend format was slightly tweaked in 2024, with the Sprint Shootout now taking place on Friday afternoon, the Sprint taking place on Saturday morning and Grand Prix qualifying returning to its traditional Saturday afternoon slot.
2025 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | Lewis Hamilton |
| 2025 Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | Lando Norris |
| 2025 Belgian Grand Prix | Spa-Francorchamps | Max Verstappen |
| 2025 United States Grand Prix | COTA | Max Verstappen |
| 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos | Lando Norris |
| 2025 Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail Circuit | Oscar Piastri |
The Sprint format returned in 2025, with its calendar announced in July 2024. The calendar was largely unchanged from the previous season, the only difference being that the Red Bull Ring was swapped out for Spa-Francorchamps. There were no tweaks to the format in 2025.
2026 F1 Sprint Calendar
| Race | Circuit | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit | |
| 2026 Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | |
| 2026 Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | |
| 2026 British Grand Prix | Silverstone | |
| 2026 Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort | |
| 2026 Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit |
F1 Sprint remains a part of Formula 1 weekends in 2026, with the format set to return at six events across the season. China and Miami are the only returning venues from 2025. Canada, the Netherlands and Singapore make their first appearances as Sprint events, while Silverstone hosts the shorter Saturday race for the first time since 2021.
The calendar was officially unveiled in September 2025, despite having been inadvertently leaked in a social media post by Dutch Grand Prix organisers earlier in the year.
The Future of F1 Sprint
F1 Sprint is a generally popular newer addition to Formula 1. Although Sprint races rarely have as much as action as a traditional Grand Prix, the additional qualifying and race sessions on Sprint weekends provide more interest than traditional second and third practice sessions which would otherwise fill the same time slots.
The format is here to stay and Formula 1 bosses are reportedly keen to increase the number of Sprint events from six to ten as soon as the 2027 season. MotoGP has adopted Sprint races as part of its race weekend format. Unlike F1, the premier motorcycle racing series hosts Sprint events at every round on its calendar.
