A new sprint format will be introduced during this seasons Formula 1 Grand Prix.
In the new set up, Sprint Qualifying will be a race run over 100km and lasting around 25-30 minutes. This will provide a short and fast-paced racing spectacle with drivers racing flat-out from start to finish without the need to pit.
Points will be awarded to the top three finishers, three for the winner down to one point for third. There won’t be a podium ceremony, as that honour will remain the privilege of the top three in Sunday’s Grand Prix, however the winner will get a trophy in Parc Ferme, presented in a similar manner to the tyre the pole-sitter receives from F1’s tyre supplier Pirelli after qualifying.
The finishing order of the race will define the grid for Sunday’s showpiece event – the Grand Prix, where the traditional format will remain unchanged.
There will be a more modest grid procedure for Sprint Qualifying, with media and guests permitted on grid as is the case in non-Covid times for the Grand Prix, but moments such as the national anthem will be unique to Sunday’s main race.
The one-hour session, split into three segments, that has caused excitement in recent years, will still a big part of the show. However, it will move to Friday.
The tyre rules will also change for this session, with only soft tyres permitted. As a result, teams and drivers will be free to start Sunday’s race on any compound, rather than having to run the tyre they qualify on in Q2.
There will be just two practice sessions during the weekend, each lasting one hour.
The first will take place on Friday, later in the day than usual given qualifying is likely to be pushed back in the schedule.
During the practice sessions, teams may use any two sets of their weekend allocation of 12.
The cars will then enter Parc Ferme after FP1, before being released for FP2, which will take place on Saturday morning. Here, they will be able to use one set of tyres, of their choice.
They will then return to Parc Ferme ahead of Sprint Qualifying, before being placed back in the quarantined environment overnight ahead of Sunday’s race.
If FP1 or Qualifying is held in wet conditions, teams will be given an additional set of intermediates tyres, but must then return a used set of those before Sprint Qualifying.
If Sprint Qualifying is wet, the teams may return one set of used or intermediate tyres afterwards, to be replaced with a new set.