P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Everything you need to know about the F1 sprint race format in 2026.
The Canadian Grand Prix this weekend will feature the return of Formula 1’s sprint format for the third time in the 2026 season at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
It will be the first sprint race at Montreal since the format’s introduction in 2021.
Sprint qualifying, consisting of three sessions (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3), determines the starting grid positions 1-10 after eliminating the six slowest drivers.
The sprint race covering 100km takes place on Saturday and lasts around 30 minutes, with points awarded for positions 1-8.
The 2026 season will see sprint races also at China, Miami, Zandvoort, Singapore, and a return to Silverstone for the first time since 2021.
Max Verstappen leads with 13 sprint race wins, while George Russell and Lando Norris have been victorious in previous sprint races this season.
