Formula 1 Sprint Races: Controversy Continues Amidst 2024 Schedule Announcement

Cataleya

April 15, 2024 · 3 min read

Formula 1 Sprint Races: Controversy Continues Amidst 2024 Schedule Announcement
Other Sports | April 15, 2024
The first Sprint race of 2024 is coming up as Formula 1 heads back to China bringing notable changes to the weekend schedule. (Image: XPB)

Sprint races in Formula 1 remain contentious with fans and drivers split on whether they should continue. In 2024, there will be six Sprint races occurring in China, Miami, Austria, the United States, Brazil and Qatar with three of them scheduled in the final six races of the season.

Following feedback from teams and drivers in 2023, the Sprint format underwent changes to address issues such as insufficient practice time leading to incorrect setups. The new format includes Free Practice 1 on Friday followed by the Sprint Shootout qualifying session.

Parc ferme conditions apply for the Sprint race on Saturday morning then reopen for qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the main race on Sunday. The Sprint race retains its 100km distance, equivalent to one-third of the standard grand prix distance. The following tables illustrate both the updated format and its implementation for the upcoming race in Shanghai this weekend.

FORMULA 1 SPRINT FORMAT 2024:

TIME SESSION
Friday – morning/early afternoon First free practice
Friday – late afternoon Sprint Shootout
Saturday – morning/early afternoon Sprint race
Saturday – end of afternoon Qualifying
Sunday – afternoon Race

 

TIMETABLE CHINESE GP:

SESSION DATE TIME
Free practice 1 Friday 19 April  – 
Sprint shootout Friday 19 April  – 
Sprintrace Saturday 20 April  – 
Qualification Saturday 20 April  – 
Race Sunday 21 April  –