Saturday in Baku: this is what the new Sprint Shootout looks like!

Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed on an important change to a weekend where a sprint race is scheduled. We list what Saturday will now look like, starting next weekend in Baku.

The sprint will therefore become a standalone event, with a qualifying session - called sprint shootout - to determine the starting line-up for the sprint race, which will have the same points system as last season. So the sprint result will no longer determine the starting grid for the Grand Prix, with qualifying for the Grand Prix taking place on Friday.

How is the sprint shootout structured?

The Sprint Shootout is a shortened version of traditional qualifying:

SQ1 for all 20 drivers is 12 minutes.
SQ2 for the remaining 15 drivers is 10 minutes.
SQ3 for the remaining top 10 drivers lasts 8 minutes.

Which tyres will be used?

For the sprint weekend in Baku, the allocation of tyres is: 2 times Hard, four times Medium, six times Soft.

For the sprint shootout, exactly which tyres are to be used (in dry weather) has been defined:
SQ1: 1x Medium
SQ2: 1x Medium
SQ3: 1x Soft

What happens to the penalties?

It is possible for a driver or team to incur a penalty on Saturday. This too has been considered:

- A grid penalty incurred in VT1 or qualifying will apply to the race.
- A grid penalty incurred in the shootout will apply to the sprint.
- A grid penalty incurred during the sprint will apply to the race.
- A violation of the parc fermé rules will result in a start from the pitlane for the sprint and race.
- Penalties related to the power unit will only apply to the race, unless there is a parc fermé violation.