In the 2025 season, F1 has revealed the six locations selected to host Sprint races.
F1 will maintain six Sprint race weekends for the 2025 season, and has revealed which six tracks will host the shorter Saturday races.
Starting from the 2021 F1 season, the championship has consistently incorporated this format every season, gradually expanding the number of weekends to six as of the 2024 season.
F1 announces six Sprint venues for 2025
Modifications were implemented to the Sprint format in order to establish an independent event for this year. Sprint Qualifying took place on Friday evening to ascertain the starting positions for the Sprint on Saturday.
The finishing order of the Sprint race no longer affects the Grand Prix. Teams can now reset their cars for the regular qualifying session on Saturday evening before the main race on Sunday.
F1 has confirmed the six venues for next year with no proposed changes to the Sprint format for 2025. The only alteration from 2024 is the replacement of Austria on the Sprint rotation with the inclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The first Sprint will take place over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, with two of the three US races also hosting a Sprint – Miami and Austin.
The final two Sprint races of the season will be hosted by Belgium, Brazil, and Qatar.
For the second year in a row, China and Miami have been chosen to host Sprints, following their successful bid in 2024. Meanwhile, Austin and Qatar are set to organize their third Sprints. Belgium had the opportunity to host a Sprint in 2023, whereas Sao Paulo has been consistently hosting the Sprint since 2021.
The motivation behind the push for more Sprint weekends is partly driven by the higher viewership numbers observed throughout the weekend. According to F1, the live audience figures for the Sprint Qualifying and Sprint race in China in 2024 were 40 percent higher across the top 15 markets, compared to the average practice sessions held during the initial two rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The Sprint in Miami garnered nearly 1 million viewers on ESPN, marking the largest audience for a Sprint in the US since its inception. In addition, the live viewership for the Austria Sprint Qualifying was 76 percent higher compared to the FP2 sessions of the previous two European rounds.
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F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has suggested that the weekend format, which was introduced during Liberty Media’s ownership, could potentially be expanded to more race weekends in the future, despite no increase in the number of Sprints currently.
After the Chinese GP Sprint earlier this year, he expressed to Sky F1, “Why not? Why not?”
In my opinion, I consider this to be excellent as it sustains the suspense on a daily basis.
“In the future, we will delve into this matter. For now, let’s assess how our current Sprint progresses and evaluate our progress throughout the year.”
However, that is definitely a topic open for discussion.
Domenicali welcomed the announcement of the six Sprint races for 2025, expressing that the format has successfully introduced a fresh dynamic to the championship while maintaining its rich heritage.
He expressed that the Sprint has been a tremendous accomplishment for Formula 1, providing an enhanced experience of action-packed racing for all our fans on the track.
The evidence of this can be observed through our audience data, Friday fan attendance, and feedback from promoters and partners.
As we approach our 75th anniversary in 2025, we will forever hold our remarkable history in high regard. However, we must constantly strive to look forward, embrace innovation, and enhance our offerings to cater to our expanding and diverse fanbase, ensuring that we continue to deliver an exceptional experience.
“The Sprint serves as an excellent illustration of introducing fresh aspects to our sport while upholding the Championship’s integrity. I extend my gratitude to the six venues chosen to host the Sprint in 2025 and eagerly anticipate the remarkable events that will unfold throughout the season.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the President of FIA, expressed equal excitement regarding the announcement. He stated, “As the FIA Formula One World Championship reaches its 75th anniversary in 2025, we will also be celebrating the fifth year of the Sprint’s inclusion in the competition.”
Through a robust partnership with Formula 1 and the valuable contributions from all teams, our collaboration has spanned a considerable period during which the regulations and format of Sprints have undergone multiple iterations. These evolutionary changes have resulted in the thrilling and widely embraced Sprints we enjoy today.
“The six events for 2025 once again take in an interesting range of circuits and are sure to provide fans with plenty of additional action across the season.”
The six sprint venues for F1 2025 confirmed
The F1 2025 championship has confirmed a total of six Sprint races.
- China
- Miami
- Belgium
- Austin
- Brazil
- Qatar
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