The sixth and last F1 weekend of the yr takes place this weekend on the Qatar Grand Prix.
The dash was first launched in 2021 at Silverstone as a means of creating extra periods over the course of the weekend aggressive, with the goal of driving curiosity in . In 2021 and 2022, there have been three sprints a yr.
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The 2023 season launched a brand new format. The variety of dash races was doubled to 6, whereas Saturday was designated as ‘dash day’ – with a brand new “dash shootout” qualifying session figuring out the grid for the dash race. As well as, the results of the dash race had no bearing on the on Sunday.
Nonetheless, the format was tweaked once more in 2024 in order that dash qualifying came about on Friday afternoon as an alternative of grand prix qualifying.
That format has remained for the 2025 season.
How does the dash race work?
The Fee and the authorized a to the dash format final yr.
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The order of play sees the ‘dash qualifying’ happen on Friday afternoon as an alternative of a second follow session, with conventional qualifying in its ordinary spot on Saturday afternoon.
It means there can be only one follow session over the course of the weekend, whereas Saturday is not designated as a ‘dash day’.
The results of the Saturday morning dash – a 100km sprint, roughly a 3rd of the space of the grand prix – is not going to influence the grid for Sunday. Factors can be awarded to the top-eight, as was the case in 2023 and 2024.
The dash race consequence is not going to have any influence on the grand prix qualifying on Saturday or the grand prix on Sunday.
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Dash qualifying will comply with the identical Q1-Q2-Q3 format, however the session occasions can be shorter than conventional qualifying: SQ1 (medium tyres) can be 12 minutes, SQ2 (medium tyres) can be 10 minutes and SQ3 (smooth tyres) can be eight minutes.
SPRINT WEEKEND FORMAT
Friday: Free Observe 1; dash qualifying (for Saturday’s dash race)
Saturday: Dash race (Prime-eight obtain factors, end order has no influence on grand prix grid); Grand Prix qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix
Max Verstappen trails Lando Norris by 24 factors within the title race (Getty Photographs)
What number of factors are on provide within the dash race?
P1 – Eight factors
P2 – Seven factors
P3 – Six factors
P4 – 5 factors
P5 – 4 factors
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P6 – three factors
P7 – two factors
P8 – one level
What number of dash races are there this season?
There are six scheduled dash races in 2025 on the following venues: China, Miami, Spa, Austin, Brazil and Qatar.
gained the primary dash race of the season in China, his .
claimed victory in an of the season in Miami, whereas triumphed within the at Spa-Francorchamps and the final month.
Norris and can be eyeing a robust displaying within the last dash in Qatar as he seems to be to seal his maiden championship.
