F1 U.S. Grand Prix at Austin Is Getting a Sprint Qualifying Race for 2023
Formula 1’s Sprint format will be used in the United States for the first time in 2023 after Austin was selected as one of six venues.
At a Sprint event, a 100 km race takes place on Saturday, the result of which sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. On Sprint weekends, the usual qualifying session—which determines the starting order for Sprint—shifted to Friday. The fastest qualifier in the Friday session is also credited with winning the pole for those keeping track of such records.
Formula 1 officials and promoters have lauded Sprint due to it providing action on all three days of track activity on a race weekend, compared to the usual pairing of routine practice sessions that take place on Friday at normal Grands Prix.
The United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas has been one of Formula 1’s biggest events since the pandemic, attracting an estimated 440,000 spectators across its weekend in 2022. It will now host Sprint for the first time in 2023, meaning it will be "lights out" twice at COTA, with Saturday to feature a 19-lap sprint, which will set the grid for Sunday’s 56-lap Grand Prix.
The other venues selected for Sprint are Azerbaijan (Baku City Circuit), Austria (Red Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa Francorchamps), Qatar (Losail) and São Paulo (Interlagos).
Austria hosted Sprint for the first time in 2022 while São Paulo has been a venue in both seasons since Sprint’s debut in 2021. For the other four venues, including 2023 returnee Qatar, it will be their first running of the format.
Formula 1 outlined that the six venues were selected following research to calculate “the most suitable tracks for the format, including overtaking opportunities, close racing, and high-speed sections.”
Formula 1 Sprint is set to utilize the same format as in 2021 and 2022 though discussions are ongoing about potential tweaks, such as whether to hold Sprint as a standalone race, for future seasons.
“We have seen a hugely positive reaction to the F1 Sprint events during the first two years of its running, and we can’t wait to bring even more action to fans with six events next year, including our first U.S. F1 Sprint in Austin,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“The introduction of the F1 Sprint has created a race weekend that includes three days of competitive racing action and brings more entertainment to fans of the sport as well as additional value for key stakeholders including teams, broadcasters, partners, and host venues.”
