Formula 1 has announced six sprint races for the 2025 season. Unlike in previous years, next year’s sprint format will be kicking off early, with the first sprint race scheduled to be held at the Chinese Grand Prix (March 21-23), which will be the second race of the year. 

None of the venues are entirely new – China, Miami (May 2-4), Austin (October 17-19), Brazil (November 7-9), and Qatar (November 28-30) are on the 2024 calendar alongside Belgium, which makes a welcome return after its successful 2023 sprint. 

But why the sprint format? Data speaks volumes. F1 has reported a significant audience boost for sprint weekends compared to traditional grand prix formats. There has been a recorded viewership increase on sprint weekends, compared to ordinary weekends where there’s only Friday practice. This means the format is working, and there’s enough reason for F1 to keep it going. 

Before 2024, various formats attempted to integrate sprints into the Grand Prix experience. The current iteration neatly separates the sprint from the main race. Friday features a qualifying session to set the sprint grid, followed by the exhilarating Saturday sprint itself. The traditional qualifying session for the main grand prix then takes place later on Saturday, leading into the grand finale on Sunday.

F1 Chairman Stefano Domenicali has hailed the sprint format as a resounding success. “It brings more action and racing to the fans,” he declared, citing audience data, increased attendance on Fridays, and positive feedback from promoters and partners. This innovation, he added, perfectly exemplified F1’s commitment to introducing fresh elements while respecting the championship’s heritage, especially as the sport celebrates its 75th anniversary next season.

For now, the 2024 sprint format, which also has six sprint races scheduled, remains unchanged. While discussions about further tweaks took place earlier this year, specifics and timelines have not been announced.