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Formula 1 weekends are structured over three days, starting with Free Practice sessions on Friday, followed by Qualifying on Saturday, and the main Race on Sunday. Free Practices allow teams to test their cars, Qualifying determines the starting grid, and the Race is the main event.
Free Practice (FP): Held on Friday, teams have three sessions (FP1, FP2, FP3) to test and adjust their cars. This includes experimenting with the circuit and understanding tire management.
Qualifying: Takes place on Saturday and consists of three phases (Q1, Q2, Q3). The fastest times determine the starting grid. The fastest driver earns the pole position. Introduced in 2021 is the Sprint Qualifying in some races, a shorter race on Saturday that awards points and sets the grid for the main race.
Sprint Qualifying (Introduced in 2021): A 100 km race on Saturday, offering points and influencing the starting order for the main race on Sunday. It was implemented to enhance the excitement of the weekend.
Race: The main event occurs on Sunday (or occasionally at night). The starting grid is determined by Qualifying or Sprint Qualifying. The race duration varies by circuit, but it usually lasts within two hours and covers around 305 km.
Photo sources: F1
