F1 Sprint weekends have a different format for 2024; Sprint Qualifying will now take place on Friday, with regular Qualifying taking place after the 100km Sprint race on a Saturday; watch the United States Grand Prix Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday
Wednesday 16 October 2024 11:20, UK
Formula 1's Sprint weekend format for 2024 explained ahead of its return at this weekend's United States Grand Prix.
There has been a very significant tweak to the running order of Sprint weekends.
As was the case last year, the weekend will begin with a single free practice session on Friday, but from there on it's all change.
Rather than Qualifying for Sunday's race, Sprint Qualifying (formerly known as the Sprint Shootout) will follow later on Friday.
Saturday will then begin with the 100km Sprint contest, with full Qualifying to follow later in the day, setting the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
The change of order allows for a crucial switch of parc ferme restrictions, which last year prevented teams from making significant setup changes from the moment full Qualifying began on a Friday through until the end of the weekend.
The new running order will still see cars go into parc ferme when the first competitive session - Friday's Sprint Qualifying - begins, but they will then be released from the restrictions after Saturday's Sprint.
Teams will have the chance to use the knowledge they've gained to alter setups ahead of full Qualifying, at the start of which they will once more be locked in for Sunday's race.
There had been a growing feeling in the paddock during last season's Sprints that giving teams just 60 minutes to prepare for the entire weekend was too much to ask.
While the system provided the potential for more surprises and an initial shifting of the pecking order, there were also downsides.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix after their cars failed a physical floor and plank wear inspection after the race, with the former's Mercedes boss Toto Wolff afterwards citing the challenges of the format.
The situation highlighted the challenge faced by teams, particularly on a bumpy surface like the one at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
A repeat of a situation like that should be avoided, while there is another significant potential benefit.
As world champion Max Verstappen - the most vocal critic among drivers of the Sprint format - has repeatedly said, the 100km has largely acted as a preview of the Grand Prix, if conditions remain similar, with no major changes allowed.
Under the new rules, there could be significant changes to performance from Saturday to Sunday, which could completely alter the pecking order for Sunday's race.
There is no change to the format of Sprint Qualifying, with the most notable alteration being the dropping of its former title, the Sprint Shootout.
The session will follow the same format as last season, with each of its three parts shorter than full qualifying to address engine and tyre concerns the teams had before last year's changes.
SQ1 is 12 minutes.
SQ2 is 10 minutes.
SQ3 is eight minutes.
The aim is that each car would only have one flying lap in each session, although two runs could be done in SQ1 while SQ2 and SQ3 would allow time for two timed laps without a pitstop in between attempts.
The other significant difference between Sprint Qualifying and full Qualifying are restrictions on tyre usage in the former.
While drivers are free to use any of their available tyres in regular qualifying, in the Sprint Shootout they are only allowed to run one set of tyres in each part.
A new set of medium tyres are mandatory in SQ1 and SQ2, while a set of tyres is mandatory in SQ3, but they don't have to be new.
The 2023 rules had initially made a new set mandatory in each of the three parts of Sprint Qualifying, but the regulations were changed mid-season after some teams created an undesirable situation by intentionally leaving themselves unable to compete in SQ3 as they used up their new sets of soft tyres in earlier sessions.
Points for the Sprint in 2024 remain unchanged.
A total of 36 points are on offer for the top eight finishers in Saturday's race. This is allocated as follows:
Unlike in the Sunday Grand Prix, there is no point for fastest lap in the Sprint.
And the points certainly can be crucial: Max Verstappen last season became the first driver to clinch a world title in a Sprint on the Saturday in Qatar.
Pit stops are few and far between given how short a Sprint is.
Unlike the Grand Prix, there is no mandatory change of tyres required and, unless cars suffer damage or puncture or it rains, don't expect them to leave the action on track for the pit lane between lights out and the chequered flag.
Drivers are free to run on whatever tyre compound - hard, medium or soft - that they wish.
As was the case in 2023, there are six Sprint weekends this season.
The first was hosted by China, as rain during Sprint Qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit resulted in incredible entertainment.
The first two Sprints of the year were back-to-back, as Miami hosted the format for the first time, in May.
In June, Austria hosted a Sprint for a third successive season, delivering another thoroughly entertaining contest.
After a long stint without a Sprint, the format returns this weekend with Austin's Circuit of the Americas retaining hosting duties at the United States Grand Prix.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix maintains its status as the only track to have hosted a Sprint in every season since the format was introduced in 2021.
Qatar holds the final Sprint weekend on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Max Verstappen won seven of the 12 F1 Sprint races to have taken place between 2021 and 2023.
The Dutchman won four of last season's six events, but actually sealed the world title when coming second to McLaren's Oscar Piastri in Qatar.
The other driver to win one was Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who triumphed in Azerbaijan when he appeared to be threatening a title challenge in the early stages of the season.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has never won a Sprint, but Mercedes have three victories - two from Valtteri Bottas and one from the Finn's replacement George Russell.
This season, Verstappen went three-for-three in China, Miami and Austria, but is highly unlikely to maintain his dominance given Red Bull have rarely been unable to match the pace of their rivals of the last few months.
Thursday October 17
8pm: Drivers' Press Conference
Friday October 18
6pm: United States GP Practice One (session starts at 6.30pm*)
8.30pm: Team Principals' Press Conference
10pm: United States GP Sprint Qualifying (qualifying starts at 10.30pm*)
Saturday October 19
6pm: United States GP Sprint build-up
7pm: United States GP Sprint
8.30pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
10pm: United States GP Qualifying build-up*
11pm: United States GP Qualifying*
(Sunday) 1am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday October 20
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted's Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event (Sunday's race build-up from 7.15pm)
Just six races remain in Formula 1 2024 and the season resumes with the United States Grand Prix in Austin from October 18-20, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime
