Formula 1
How a Formula 1 weekend works: practice, qualifying, Sprint and Race
A practical guide to the current FIA sporting format: how a standard weekend differs from an alternative Sprint weekend, how Q1–Q3 work, and which sessions set the Sprint and Race grids.
Standard weekend: three practice sessions
Under the current FIA standard format, FP1 and FP2 take place on the first day of track running and FP3 on the second. Each is normally one hour. Qualifying follows FP3, while the Race takes place on the third day.
Qualifying: Q1, Q2 and Q3
Race Qualifying is split into Q1, Q2 and Q3. The field is reduced after Q1 and again after Q2; the remaining drivers contest Q3 for the leading qualifying positions. The Race grid is formed from Qualifying, subject to the grid rules and penalties.
Sprint weekend: one practice, Sprint Qualifying and Sprint
At an alternative-format event, the first day has one FP1 session and Sprint Qualifying. Sprint Qualifying sets the Sprint grid. The Sprint and the separate Race Qualifying take place on the second day, so the Sprint result does not replace Race Qualifying.
The Race remains the main third-day session
The Race takes place on the third day at every competition. Its grid is based on Race Qualifying, while the Sprint grid is based on Sprint Qualifying. Penalties and exceptional procedures can change the final published grids.