Qualifying & Sprint Races

Learn how the 2026 qualifying system works with 22 cars and how Sprint races change the path to pole position and the Sunday starting grid.

Revised Qualifying Format for 2026

Cadillac’s arrival as an 11th team expands the grid to 22 cars, so Formula 1 has reshaped qualifying into three busy knockout rounds.

Q1 – 22 drivers All cars take part, and the 6 slowest drivers are eliminated at the end of the session. 16 progress to Q2.
Q2 – 16 drivers The remaining 16 fight again; another 6 are knocked out, leaving the top 10 to reach Q3.
Q3 – 10 drivers The final 10 battle over the front five rows of the grid, including pole position.
This structure goes back toward a 2016‑style format but is tuned for a bigger field, making each round more crowded and more intense.

How Grid Positions Are Decided

The times set in each qualifying session decide where drivers line up, with the fastest laps always rewarded, then penalties applied if needed.

  • Pole position: Fastest lap in Q3 starts P1 on the grid.
  • Top 10: Positions 2–10 are ordered by the remaining Q3 lap times.
  • Q2 exits: The 6 drivers knocked out in Q2 fill the next 6 places based on their Q2 times.
  • Q1 exits: The 6 slowest in Q1 occupy the final six spots, ordered by Q1 times.
  • Penalties: Engine or gearbox penalties can move drivers back even after a strong session.

Sprint Race Format

On Sprint weekends, qualifying still happens on Friday but sets the grid for a shorter 100 km race on Saturday instead of directly for the Grand Prix.

Friday – Qualifying A standard three‑part qualifying session decides the starting grid for Saturday’s Sprint race.
Saturday – Sprint Drivers race over about 100 km; the Sprint finishing order becomes the starting grid for Sunday.
Sunday – Grand Prix The grid is based on Sprint results, and full championship points are awarded in the main race.
Sprint points Points go to the top 8: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point for 1st through 8th place.
A strong Sprint can rescue a bad qualifying or make a good one even better, while crashes or mistakes can ruin a driver’s Sunday starting spot.

Why These Formats Matter

The updated qualifying rules and Sprint races add more pressure points across the weekend, so every lap can change the story of a driver’s season.

More pressure in Q1 & Q2 With 6 drivers eliminated twice, midfield and even front‑running teams face real risk of an early exit.
Extra scoring chances Sprint points reward consistency and aggression, especially for drivers chasing the title from behind.
Strategy trade‑offs Teams must balance taking risks to gain Sprint positions against protecting the car for the Grand Prix.
Fans see more action With competitive sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there are fewer “quiet” days at Sprint events.