Formula 1 will feature six Sprint weekends in the 2026 season, with Shanghai hosting the first event this Friday. The Sprint format includes qualifying on Friday, a 100km race on Saturday, and traditional qualifying later that day to set the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore join the Sprint roster for the first time, while Silverstone returns after a four-year absence.

Sprint Qualifying follows a three-part knockout format with reduced times: 12 minutes for SQ1, 10 minutes for SQ2, and eight minutes for SQ3. Drivers must use one set of tyres per session, with medium compounds mandatory in the first two parts and softs required in the final segment. Points are awarded to the top eight finishers, with the winner earning eight points and the eighth-place driver receiving one point.

Teams can modify car setups after Saturday's Sprint before full qualifying begins, as cars exit parc ferme restrictions. Unlike Grand Prix races, Sprint events have no mandatory tyre changes, and pit stops are rare unless damage occurs or weather changes. The format aims to provide more competitive action across all three days of select race weekends.