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F1 Sprint Races: How do they work and what are the changes for 2025?
The 2025 F1 season will feature the return of the sprint format at the United States Grand Prix this weekend in Austin, Texas.
Introduced in 2021, the sprint race weekend involves less practice sessions and more competitive racing, with the grid of 20 drivers participating at various circuits throughout the year.
COTA is the fourth circuit to host a sprint race this season, with the sprint race scheduled for October 18, followed by the main grand prix event on October 19.
The weekend will see drivers having one hour of practice on Friday before sprint qualifying, which sets the starting grid for the shorter race on Saturday.
Sunday will feature the full length United States GP, with no changes to the sprint weekend format in 2025.
There are six sprint races scheduled for this season, including events in Austin, Brazil, and Qatar, each offering a maximum of eight additional points to competitors.
