How an F1 Weekend Works:
Practice, Qualifying & The Race
Confused by Q1, Q2, and Q3? Here is the simple guide to what happens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
| Day | Event | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Practice (FP1, FP2) | Testing car setup. No points. |
| Saturday | Qualifying | Determines starting order. |
| Sunday | The Grand Prix | The main race. Points awarded. |
Friday: Practice (Testing)
Friday is all about data. The teams have two 60-minute sessions (FP1 and FP2) to set up the car.
- No points are awarded.
- Drivers learn the track and test different tyre compounds.
- Engineers tweak the wing angles and suspension to find the best "setup" for the race.
Saturday: Qualifying (The Knockout)
This determines the starting order (the Grid) for Sunday's race. It is a high-pressure "knockout" session split into three parts.
Why Is Qualifying So Important in F1?
Overtaking in Formula 1 is difficult. Starting at the front (Pole Position) gives you a massive advantage because you have a clear track ahead of you and no "dirty air" from other cars to slow you down.
Why do they wait until the last second? You will often see cars sitting in the garage until the clock hits 2:00. This is because of "Track Evolution". As cars drive around, they lay down rubber, making the track grippier and faster. The last car to cross the line often has the best track conditions.
Q1 (18 Minutes)
20 Cars StartAll 20 drivers try to set a fast lap. The slowest 5 drivers are eliminated. They will start the race in positions 16-20.
Q2 (15 Minutes)
15 Cars RemainTimes are reset. The remaining 15 drivers go again. The slowest 5 drivers are eliminated. They will start in positions 11-15.
Q3 (12 Minutes)
Top 10 ShootoutThe final battle for Pole Position (1st place). The fastest driver starts at the front on Sunday.
Sunday: The Grand Prix (The Race)
The main event. Drivers race for roughly 300km (usually about 90 minutes).
- Pit Stops are mandatory: Every driver must use at least two different types of tyre compounds (e.g., Medium and Hard).
- Points: Only the top 10 finishers score points.
What about Sprint Weekends?
At 6 events per year, the format changes to include a shorter "Sprint" race on Saturday. This is designed to add more entertainment by having competitive racing on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Sprint Format
- Friday:
FP1 (60 mins) + Sprint Qualifying (shorter version of normal quali). - Saturday:
The Sprint Race (100km dash, no pit stops) + Grand Prix Qualifying. - Sunday:
The Main Grand Prix (unchanged).
Note: The winner of the Sprint gets 8 points. The winner of the Grand Prix gets 25 points.