Race Day Decoded: The Core Format of Formula One
The format of a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend
Formula 1 events follow a format consisting of Free Practice (FP) sessions, Qualifying (Q1–Q3), and the Race. A Grand Prix weekend generally begins on Friday and concludes with the race on Sunday.
Free Practice consists of three one-hour sessions: two on Friday and one on Saturday.
During these sessions, teams fine-tune car setup, compare on-track data with simulation results, and evaluate tire characteristics and wear through actual running.
Qualifying is conducted in a three-session knockout format. In Q1, all cars participate in an 18-minute session, with the top 15 advancing to the next stage. Q2 features 15 cars over 15 minutes, with the top 10 progressing to the final session. In Q3, 10 cars compete over 12 minutes for pole position. From 2026, with the number of entries increasing to 22 cars, a proposal is under consideration to increase the number of cars eliminated in Q1 and Q2 to six each.
The starting grid for the race is determined by qualifying results. Race distance is regulated at a minimum of 305 km, with the number of laps set to exceed this distance. An exception is the Monaco Grand Prix, where the minimum race distance is 260 km due to the circuit’s characteristics.
In the event of incidents or changing weather conditions, races are subject to a maximum duration of two hours. If a race is suspended by a red flag, the overall time limit is extended to three hours.
The F1 Sprint format that enhances race-weekend excitement
To enhance the entertainment value of the Grand Prix weekend, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula One Management (FOM) have introduced the Sprint format. At selected rounds each season, a Sprint race of approximately 100 km is held, resulting in competitive races on both Saturday and Sunday.
Under this format, the schedule is:
Friday: Free Practice and Sprint Qualifying (SQ)
Saturday: Sprint Race and standard Qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix Race
Sprint Qualifying features shorter session times—SQ1: 12 minutes, SQ2: 10 minutes, SQ3: 8 minutes—as well as mandatory tire compounds: Medium tires for SQ1 and SQ2, and Soft tires for SQ3. During the Sprint race, there is no mandatory tire change requirement.
For the 2026 season, Sprint events are scheduled at six rounds: the Chinese Grand Prix (Round 2), Miami Grand Prix (Round 6), Canadian Grand Prix (Round 7), British Grand Prix (Round 11), Dutch Grand Prix (Round 14), and Singapore Grand Prix (Round 18).