Formula One fans are eagerly awaiting the first Sprint Qualifying session of the season after the new format’s success in 2021.
With just hours until the Sprint action returns to form at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, here’s a reminder of what the relatively new setup will look like – with some changes this season.
Every driver will race across 100km on a Saturday afternoon, with the results deciding the pecking order for Sunday’s main event.
However, this year the driver who sets the fastest time in Q3 of qualifying on Friday night will still be credited with pole position status regardless of their finishing position in the sprint race on Saturday.
The top eight finishers during Sprint Qualifying will now receive points, which marks an increase on what was allocated in 2021.
The winner will now pick up eight points, rather than three, meanwhile, points will trickle down to eighth place and will apply to both the F1 world drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
They will be awarded as follows: 1st will get 8 points, 2nd 7 points, 3rd 6 points, 4th 5 points, 5th 4 points, 6th 3 points, 7th 2 points, 8th 1 point.
Saturday’s grid will be decided on Friday, by using the current format seen on a Saturday, and there will be a 60-minute practice session on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Parc Fermé conditions will apply from the start of Qualifying on Friday, to stop the construction of special Qualifying cars, limit the number of hours required for preparing the car for the following day, and allow enough reconfiguration of the cars to make Saturday morning Free Practice a useful session.
Here’s how the first Sprint Qualifying session will play out at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari:
Saturday
FP2: 11:30-12:30
Sprint Qualifying: 15:30-16:00
Sunday
Race: 14:00
Three F1 sprint races will be dotted across the 2022 season, at Imola, the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos.
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