Highlights of F1 sprint races in 2021 leading up to Imola

As in 2021, Formula 1 will host three sprint races this season, the first of which will be held this weekend in Imola. High time to look back to last year and see how the first sprint races in F1 history went.

Verstappen won first sprint race, Bottas the rest

The first-ever F1 sprint race took place at Silverstone, where Max Verstappen spectacularly beat title rival Lewis Hamilton to victory on Saturday and pole position on Sunday.

The second sprint race in Monza was won by Valtteri Bottas, but due to a grid penalty, his pole position went to Verstappen. Daniel Ricciardo surprised friend and foe by finishing third, which gave him a spot on the front row of the grid next to Verstappen due to Bottas' penalty.

In Brazil, it was again Bottas who managed to take the sprint race to his name with Verstappen in his wake. However, all eyes were on Hamilton, who had to start last after his grid penalty due to an engine change and managed to come back to fifth in half an hour.

This year the stakes are higher, as there are more points to be earned. Those points go to the top eight, starting with eight points for the winner. The winner of the sprint race will also start the race on Sunday from pole position. After Imola, two more sprint races are scheduled at the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos.