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What Is the Format of a Race Weekend?

Formula 1’s Grand Prix format sees the event take place over three days, from Friday to Sunday.

Friday

Free Practice 1 (FP1): The day usually begins with the first practice session. This session allows teams and drivers to familiarize themselves with the track, test car setups, and gather data.

Free Practice 2 (FP2): The second practice session takes place in the afternoon. Teams continue to fine-tune their cars and assess tire performance over longer runs.

Saturday

Free Practice 3 (FP3): The final practice session is held on Saturday morning. It's a shorter session, and teams focus on refining their setups and making last-minute adjustments.

Qualifying: In the afternoon, the qualifying session occurs. Drivers compete to set the fastest lap times in a knockout-style format (Q1, Q2, and Q3). The results determine the starting grid for the race on Sunday.

Sunday

Race Day: The main event takes place on Sunday. The race distance can vary but is typically around 305 kilometres (190 miles) or a specific number of laps. Drivers compete for points based on their finishing positions, with the aim of winning the race.

Sprint Weekends

In the 2023 season, there is six Sprint weekends, each featuring a unique format. During a Sprint weekend, a thrilling 100-kilometre run to the finish line determines the starting grid for the Grand Prix scheduled on Sunday.

  • On Friday morning, the action kicks off with FP1 as drivers hit the track to familiarize themselves with the circuit. Later in the same day, qualifying takes place, setting the stage for the Sprint race.

  • Saturday begins with the second practice session to fine-tune car setups and strategy. Following the practice, the main highlight of the Sprint weekend, the Sprint race itself, takes centre stage.

  • Finally, Sunday brings us the Grand Prix, adhering to the traditional race format.

F1 Grand Prix Points Allocation

Place

Points

1st

25

2nd

18

3rd

15

4th

12

5th

10

6th

8

7th

6

8th

4

9th

2

10th

1