Formula 1 will once again host six F1 Sprint weekends across its 24-round 2024 calendar. Sprint events will take place in China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar.
- Please Note: This post was originally published on December 5, 2023. It was updated on February 5, 2024 after Formula 1 announced changes to the sprint format for 2024. See below.
Formula 1 has announced the six Grand Prix weekends which will host F1 Sprint races in 2024. The F1 Sprint sees drivers battle in a shorter Saturday race, adding more value for fans trackside. With six Sprint events set to take place across next year’s 24-round calendar, it means that there will be a total of 30 Formula 1 races during the 2024 season; the most on record.
Where Will F1 Sprint Races Take Place in 2024?
| Dates | Event | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| April 19-21 | 2024 Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit |
| May 3-5 | 2024 Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome |
| June 28-30 | 2024 Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring |
| October 18-20 | 2024 United States Grand Prix | Circuit of The Americas |
| November 1-3 | 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix | Interlagos |
| November 29-December 1 | 2024 Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail International Circuit |
The first F1 Sprint of the year will take place at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, at Shanghai International Circuit on April 19-21. 2024 marks China’s return to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2019 and, as the Sprint was first introduced in 2021, the Shanghai track is one of two which will host a Sprint race for the first time.
Also hosting its inaugural Sprint event in 2024 is the race immediately after Shanghai: the Miami Grand Prix. The Miami race, which first joined the calendar in 2022, will host an additional Saturday event on May 4. The Austrian Grand Prix on June 28-30 will be host to the only European Sprint event in 2024, hosting the revised format for the third time.
There’ll be three Sprint weekends in the space of five race weekends in the second half of the season, with Circuit of The Americas, Interlagos and Lusail Circuit all signed up to host Sprint races again in 2023. Interlagos will be the first circuit to host the Sprint format four times, with the format having being used at every São Paulo Grand Prix weekend since 2021.
On the announcement of the Sprint calendar for 2024, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said:
“I am delighted to announce six exciting venues for next season’s F1 Sprint events, including two new hosts China and Miami, both of which will be fantastic additions and provide great racing for all our fans at the race and watching at home. Since its creation in 2021, the Sprint has been consistent in delivering increased audiences on TV, more on track entertainment for the fans at events and increased fan engagement on social and digital platforms, and we are looking forward to the exciting events next year.”
Formula 1 has revealed that the addition of more competitive action has significantly increased viewership at Sprint weekends. According to research by Nielsen, television audiences for Friday qualifying in 2023 increased by +83% in Azerbaijan, +139% at COTA and +34% at Spa compared to the viewing figures for Free Practice 2 at the same events in 2022.
Changes to the F1 Sprint Format in 2024?
UPDATE: In early February, Formula 1 confirmed a change to the Sprint weekend format in 2024. Free Practice 1 and qualifying for the Sprint will take place on Friday, the Sprint race will take place before Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday and the main Grand Prix remains on Sunday. Exact timings for these sessions are yet to be announced.
In 2023, the F1 Sprint race had its own qualifying session for the first time which was separate to qualifying for the main Grand Prix. The Sprint Shootout is expected to return in 2024, with plans to separate the F1 Sprint action from the Grand Prix activities even further.
One idea is to move the Sprint Shootout to Friday afternoon and run the Sprint itself on Saturday morning, before qualifying for the Grand Prix takes place on Saturday afternoon. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the idea of using reverse grids for Sprint events is also still being explored.
Specific details surrounding timing of Sprint events and parc fermé regulations are yet to be decided. The final proposals for the Sprint format in 2024 will be presented at an F1 Commission meeting early next year.
Tickets on Sale For Two 2024 F1 Sprint Events
Tickets are already on sale for two of F1’s Sprint weekends in 2024. Tickets for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix have been on sale since the summer, with only a handful of tickets remaining available in our ticket shop. Tickets for the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, meanwhile, went on sale in November.
Tickets for the Chinese, Miami, United States and Qatar Grands Prix will be available at a later date. Subscribe to our mailing list (and check the box for the relevant races) for updates on ticket sales if you are interested in attending a Sprint weekend in 2024.
