The sprint race in Formula One will return in 2022, with some adjustments from 2021, explained its format, rules and meaning in F1
Find out what those changes are and what you need to know about them right now.
Following the introduction of the sprint race format at three races in the 2021 season at Silverstone, Monza, and Interlagos, F1 stages its inaugural sprint race of 2022 during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
Explained F1 Sprint Race 2022 Rules, Format, Schedule, Points, Time And Meaning
F1 Sprint Race 2022: Whole Schedule, What Are The Change? Sprint Race Weekend Format, Betting Odd Details, Where To Watch Live, Ticket Details & More
Sprint race:
A sprint race is a shorter variant of a regular race that takes place over a shorter distance. They’re employed in a variety of different series, but their involvement in the Formula 2 race weekend is possibly the most notable for Formula 1. The sprint race in Formula 2 is 120 kilometers long, while the feature race is 170 kilometers long, yet both are as entertaining.
A sprint race is a shorter variant of a regular race that takes place over a shorter distance. They’re employed in a variety of different series, but their involvement in the Formula 2 race weekend is possibly the most notable for Formula 1. The sprint race in Formula 2 is 120 kilometers long, while the feature race is 170 kilometers long, yet both are as entertaining.
F1 has added sprint races to increase the excitement of the whole race weekend by giving spectators a competitive session on each of the three days of track action (qualifying has been shifted to Friday afternoon), and it is believed that this will result in a better overall experience. F1 has long sought to alter the conventional race weekend structure, and while alternatives such as reverse grid races were investigated, they were eventually dismissed in favor of sprint races.
Changes for 2022:
Venue:
Firstly, After Silverstone, Monza, and Interlagos hosted the initial trio last year, Imola, the Red Bull Ring, and Interlagos will host the three sprint races in 2022.
F1 had planned to have six F1 sprint race weekends in 2022, with the remaining three taking place during Bahrain, Canada, and Netherlands Grands Prix, but this plan was scrapped as part of a compromise over the level of compensation for accident damage incurred by teams during sprint races.
Points:
Secondly, In comparison to the previous year, the number of points available in each F1 sprint race has risen. The champion will now receive eight points instead of three, with points stretching all the way down to eighth place, when before only the top three would receive points. The points will be applied to both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in Formula One.
The following points will be awarded: first 8 points, second 7 points, third 6 points, fourth 5 points, fifth 4 points, sixth 3 points, seventh 2 points, and eighth 1 point.
The grid for the Grand Prix will be determined, as it was last year, by the finishing order in the F1 sprint race, with any grid penalties enforced after the sprint.
What is the structure of the sprint race weekend?
The sprint race weekend schedule will stay the same, with one 60-minute practice session prior to qualifying on Friday. Another 60-minute practice session before the sprint race on Saturday. The Sunday Grand Prix is likewise unaffected.
The sprint race weekend format:
- 60-minute Free Practice 1-Friday early afternoon
Q1, Q2, Q3 sessions to order the starting grid for the sprint race Friday late afternoon
60-minute Free Practice 2-Saturday morning
100km sprint race qualifying-Saturday afternoon
Full grand Prix-Sunday afternoon
A regular F1 grand Prix weekend format:
- 60-minute Free Practice 1-Friday early afternoon
60-minute Free Practice 2-Friday late afternoon
60-minute Free Practice 3-Saturday morning
Q1, Q2, Q3 sessions to order the starting grid for the Grand Prix-Saturday afternoon
Full grand Prix-Sunday afternoon
In 2022, when will the sprint events be held?
| Venue | Grand Prix | When |
| Imola | Emilia Romagna GP | 23rd April 2022 |
| Red Bull Ring | Austrian GP | 9th July 2022 |
| Interlagos | Sao Paulo GP | 12th November 2022 |
Here are some of our favorite bets coming into the Grand Prix:
Valtteri Bottas will qualify ahead of Esteban Ocon (+100):
This wager is for the sprint race qualifying session on Friday. Bottas has demonstrated excellent single-lap performance in his Alfa Romeo, and the car’s shorter wheelbase may allow him to be quick in bursts this weekend.
Lance Stroll will finish ahead of Sebastian Vettel(+100):
Vettel battled with his Aston Martin in his opening race of the year in Australia two weeks ago. Those difficulties might last another week as Vettel adjusts to this new vehicle design in racing circumstances.
McLaren will finish ahead of Alpine (+100):
We’re betting that McLaren’s improvement in Australia isn’t a one-off, as the team seems to be the fourth-best on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton will finish ahead of Sergio Perez (+120):
This is a wager-based in part on Red Bull’s reliability issues thus far this season, as well as some more Mercedes development.
Free Practice 1 will be won by Charles Leclerc (+225 points):
So far in 2022, Ferrari and Leclerc have been the team to beat, and they’ll be eager to set the best time in the opening practice in their native country.
How to watch the race?
- Channel – Sky Sports F1 HD
- Channel – Sky: 406
- Channel – Virgin Media: 506
How to watch the race highlight?
Channel: Channel 4
Start time: Saturday qualifying and sprint – 6:45 pm BST, Sunday race – 6:30 pm BST
In the US:
Keep in mind that because of the time difference, some of the sessions for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix start quite early in the morning; for example, practice 2 starts at 6.30 a.m. ET / 3.30 a.m. PT on Saturday.
You can watch ESPN in a variety of ways, two of which are among our top recommendations for the finest streaming services.
Most cable bundles, as well as cable TV replacement providers such as Sling TV, and Fubo.TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu with Live TV, including ESPN.
In the UK:
The 2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 in up to 4K resolution, with the event commencing at 2 p.m. on Sunday (April 24).
To watch it, you’ll need to be a Sky Sports subscriber: the Sky Sports F1 channel costs £18 a month, and there are bundles that offer you a lot more channels for a little more money.
You’ll need a Sky Q set-top box or Sky Glass, as well as a plan that includes both Extremely HD and Sky Sports F1, to watch it in ultra-high-definition 4K. In all, that would cost at least £45 each month, plus a £20 one-time charge if you aren’t an existing customer.
In Cannada:
In Canada, TSN broadcasts a live feed of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in English, while RDS has coverage in French. F1 TV Pro is also available to fans.
TSN broadcasts all sessions, and if you get TSN through your cable or satellite provider, you may log in in with your TV subscription credentials to utilize TSN Go. TSN Direct, which offers day and month-long passes for $8 and $20 CAD, is a good option for cord-cutters. You may watch the race live on your phone, streaming box, or another compatible device with the TSN app.
In Australia:
In Australia, Fox Sports has the right to broadcast the F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix live stream, which means you can watch the whole race online on Foxtel.
Another alternative is Kayo Sports. This site provides a 14-day free trial to new customers, with one-month subscriptions starting at $25 – so you could sign up right now and watch the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix for free.