Here’s everything you need to know about the sprint shootout in F1 – format, rules and more
Formula 1 has introduced a new format for Sprint weekends in 2023. The weekend now starts with Friday qualifying, which determines the grid for the main Grand Prix on Sunday. On Saturday, a shorter qualifying session called the Sprint Shootout takes place before the Sprint race.
The Sprint, which was first introduced in 2021, adds an extra race to the weekend, aiming to provide more exciting on-track battles. The Friday evening qualifying session decides the grid for the Sprint race.
The winner of the Sprint race earns the pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix, while any drivers facing issues during the Sprint start from the back of the grid in the main race. This change was made to ensure each day of the Grand Prix weekend offers significant racing action.
In 2023, a significant change in Formula 1 is that the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix will no longer be determined by the result of Saturday’s shorter race, the Sprint. Instead, the grid will be decided by Friday’s qualifying session. The fastest driver during Friday evening’s qualifying will secure the pole position for Sunday’s race. Additionally, Saturday morning will see a new, separate qualifying session called the Sprint Shootout, replacing Practice Two in the weekend schedule. This means that the Sprint, along with its qualifying Shootout, now functions as a distinct entity from the main Grand Prix event.
What role does the Sprint Shootout play in the scheme of things?
In the 2023 Sprint Shootout, the qualifying format remains the same with three knockout sessions (Q1, Q2, and Q3). However, to address concerns regarding engine and tire usage, the duration of each session has been shortened. SQ1 is now 12 minutes (previously 18 minutes), SQ2 is 10 minutes (previously 15 minutes), and SQ3 is 8 minutes (previously 12 minutes).
The goal is to ensure that each car completes only one flying lap in each session. Although in SQ1, two runs are still possible, SQ2 and SQ3 allow time for two timed laps without the need for a pitstop between attempts. This change aims to manage the strain on engines and tires while maintaining the excitement of the qualifying sessions.
There are specific restrictions on tyre usage that differ from regular qualifying. During the Sprint Shootout, teams must use new sets of medium tyres in both SQ1 and SQ2. In SQ3, drivers are required to run on soft tyres, but they don’t necessarily have to be new sets. Regarding the points system, the scoring for the Sprint race in 2023 remains the same as it was in 2022. The top eight finishers in Saturday’s race will earn points, with the winner receiving eight points. Second place will be awarded seven points, and this point distribution continues in descending order until the eighth-place finisher. In total, 36 points will be available for distribution among the top eight drivers in the Sprint race.
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