Formula 1 is about to return, with just under a month to go until the Australian Grand Prix, which will kick off a 24-race world championship season. It will once again feature the Sprint format, with six events scheduled for 2025. The mini-race on Saturday will take place at the following rounds: China (March 21-23), Miami (May 2-4), Belgium (July 25-27), Texas (October 17-18), Brazil (November 7-9), and Qatar (November 29 – December 1).
For now, there are no major changes to the format, with the only notable difference being the removal of the additional point for the fastest lap. The points distribution will remain the same:
1st – 8 points
2nd – 7 points
3rd – 6 points
4th – 5 points
5th – 4 points
6th – 3 points
7th – 2 points
8th – 1 point
Sprint qualifying will continue to be divided into three sessions: Q1 (12 minutes), Q2 (10 minutes), and Q3 (8 minutes).
As in previous seasons, the Sprint Shootout will have mandatory tire compounds: medium tires for Q1 and Q2, while in Q3, teams can choose between new or used soft tires, a rule introduced last season.
The Sprint Race format has been part of F1 since 2021, with Max Verstappen holding the record for most wins—11 out of 18 events.
Although the format was introduced to make race weekends more challenging for teams and enhance the spectacle, it has not always been beneficial. The limited time available for teams to adjust or modify their cars ahead of Sunday’s main race—the most valuable session of the weekend—has often been a point of contention.
Despite some “safe” Sprint Races, last season delivered exciting moments, from the Sprint in China to the intense battles in Austria between Verstappen and the two McLarens, as well as the Ferrari in-fight between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in Austin. Will the upcoming Sprint events bring even more excitement? Time is running out.
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