Sprint Race Format Explained

Everything you need to know ahead of the first F1 Sprint Race of 2024

Published

16 Apr 2024

Est Reading Time

2 min

F1 Sprint weekends are back in 2024 with a slightly tweaked format, so we have put together a guide of everything you need to know for the Chinese Grand Prix.

A Sprint race typically covers 100km, which is around one-third of a standard Grand Prix distance and lasts about 30 minutes.

The grid is decided by a shorter qualifying session, consisting of a 12-minute Q1, a 10-minute Q2 and an 8-minute Q3.

As with Grand Prix Qualifying, the bottom five drivers in the first two sessions get eliminated until only 10 remain.

Get your Fan Passport

Sign up today to unlock your unique Fan Passport. Get the latest news, see exclusive insights, and show off your support for Alex!

In the race, there are no mandatory pit stops, making it a charge for the chequered flag with up to eight points on the line for P1 all the way down to one point for P8.

For 2024, the two Sprint sessions will now be spread across Friday and Saturday, beginning with FP1 before the Sprint Qualifying session

Then, Saturday starts with the Sprint race and ends with Qualifying for Sunday’s full-length Grand Prix.

Since the format's debut, Alex has participated in nine Sprint sessions.

Our No.23 didn’t get along too well with the 2022 Sprint races, finishing P18 at the Emilia Romagna Sprint and P16 in Austria, while debris damage forced his retirement in Brazil

However, the 2023 Sprint season saw Albono back to his best.

He just missed out on points in Azerbaijan and the United States with two P9 finishes but had his best-ever finish at the 2023 Qatar Sprint.

Despite starting P17, he had a phenomenal race, finishing P7 after Charles Leclerc was handed a five-second time penalty, earning Williams their maiden Sprint points.

Alex will be hoping he can once again build on past results in China this weekend and beyond for the Sprint races in 2024.