Sprint calendar and format announced for 2024
China and Miami will stage Sprints for the first time next season
A new-look format has been announced for the six-race 2024 Sprint calendar, which includes two new locations.
The Sprint Shootout, which determines the grid for the Sprint, will now take place on a Friday after Free Practice. The Sprint itself will be the first event on a Saturday, with points being handed out to the top eight finishers: the winner gets eight points, and the driver in eighth gains one point - the same as in 2023.
The Sprint remains a standalone event that doesn’t affect the starting grid on Sunday. Qualifying for the Grand Prix will then take place on Saturday following the conclusion of the race.
The format change follows December’s announcement that two new locations will feature on the Sprint calendar for 2024, with six venues in total.
On its highly anticipated return to the calendar for the first time since 2019, the Chinese Grand Prix will stage its first F1 Sprint event in 2024. Taking place on 19-21 April, this will be the first Sprint weekend of the season. The Miami Grand Prix will also feature a Sprint for the first time next season.
Meanwhile, the São Paulo Grand Prix will host its fourth Sprint, and Austria will run its third. The US Grand Prix in Austin and the Qatar Grand Prix will feature an F1 Sprint for the second time.
McLaren took four Sprint podiums in 2023, including Oscar’s first victory in Formula 1. In the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint, Oscar became the first driver since Esteban Gutierrez in Spain in 2013 to lead a race, before finishing second. The Australian rookie then went one better in the Sprint at Qatar, winning the Sprint after taking his first F1 pole.
Lando also enjoyed success in the Sprint, claiming pole in the São Paolo Grand Prix Sprint, before finishing second. He also finished third in the Sprint at Qatar.
2024 F1 Sprint Events:
| Date | Grand Prix | Venue |
| 19 - 21 April | Chinese GP | Shanghai |
| 3 - 5 May | Miami GP | Miami |
| 28 - 30 June | Austrian GP | Spielberg |
| 18 - 20 October | United States GP | Austin |
| 1 - 3 November | São Paulo GP | São Paulo |
| 29 November - 1 December | Qatar GP | Lusail |
