A sprint weekend replaces one practice session with a separate qualifying session and a short race, run over about 100 kilometres with no compulsory pit stop. Points go to the leading finishers, and the result does not set the grid for the grand prix, which has its own qualifying.
The format compresses the weekend. Teams get a single hour of practice before their setup is effectively locked, then run sprint qualifying to decide the order for Saturday's short race, and separate grand prix qualifying to decide Sunday's grid. Getting the car right on Friday morning matters more than on a normal weekend.
For the 2026 season the sprint ran at six of the twenty-four rounds. Points went to the top eight finishers on a sliding scale from eight down to one, which is enough to matter across a championship without rivalling a grand prix win.
The sprint is a race rather than a rehearsal, and drivers treat it as one, but the risk calculation is different. Damage on Saturday carries into Sunday under limited setup freedom, so a driver leading a championship has far more to lose in a sprint than a driver chasing one.