The 2025 Formula 1 season reaches a critical juncture this weekend as the championship battle intensifies at the Qatar Grand Prix, which also hosts the sixth and final sprint race of the year.
The Final Sprint Weekend of 2025
Introduced in 2021 to inject more competitive action into race weekends, the sprint format has evolved significantly. This season marks the conclusion of a six-event sprint calendar, with the Losail International Circuit providing the stage for the last short-form race. The format, revised for the 2024 season and maintained this year, sees a significant shift in the traditional weekend schedule.
Friday afternoon is now dedicated to sprint qualifying, replacing what would typically be a second practice session. This sets the grid for Saturday's main event: the sprint race itself. This 100-kilometre dash, roughly a third of a full Grand Prix distance, is a pure spectacle where the top eight finishers score crucial championship points.
How the Sprint Race and Qualifying Work
A key feature of the current format is the separation of the sprint event from the Grand Prix. The result of Saturday's sprint has no bearing whatsoever on the grid for Sunday's main race. This allows drivers to take more risks in the sprint without jeopardising their starting position for the pinnacle event.
The sprint qualifying session, which determines the sprint race grid, follows a shortened version of the familiar Q1, Q2, and Q3 structure:
- SQ1: Lasts 12 minutes, with drivers using medium compound tyres.
- SQ2: A 10-minute session, also on medium tyres.
- SQ3: An 8-minute shootout for the fastest drivers, using soft tyres.
Following the sprint race on Saturday, the weekend then reverts to tradition with the all-important Grand Prix qualifying session setting the grid for Sunday.
Points and Championship Implications
With valuable points on the line, the sprint race is far from a mere exhibition. The points allocation for the top eight finishers remains unchanged from previous years:
- 1st Place: 8 points
- 2nd Place: 7 points
- 3rd Place: 6 points
- 4th Place: 5 points
- 5th Place: 4 points
- 6th Place: 3 points
- 7th Place: 2 points
- 8th Place: 1 point
These points could prove decisive in the title fight. Lando Norris arrives in Qatar leading the Drivers' Championship, having won the previous sprint in Brazil. He holds a 24-point advantage over reigning champion Max Verstappen. A strong result in this final sprint could give Norris a significant boost as he aims to secure his maiden world title.
The 2025 sprint races have seen victories shared among the top contenders. Lewis Hamilton secured his first win for Ferrari in China, Norris triumphed in Miami and Brazil, while Max Verstappen claimed top honours in Spa-Francorchamps and Austin. All eyes will now be on Qatar to see who takes the final sprint victory of the season and how it shapes the ultimate championship outcome.
