What is the format for F1 sprint races in 2026?

Originally published by BBC Sports
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18 May 2026, 07:30
What is the format for F1 sprint races in 2026?

Sprint qualifying has three sessions, where now the six slowest cars are knocked out from the first two - like normal qualifying.

These sessions, known as SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3, last 12, 10 and eight minutes respectively.

This will make up the grid for the sprint race.

The top eight finishers score points, from eighth for first place to one for eighth spot, which will get added to the overall drivers' championship standings.

At the second sprint in Miami three weeks ago, world champion Lando Norris took pole position and eased to victory ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was demoted from fourth to sixth after being handed a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits too many times.