Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Formula 1 introduces the Sprint format for the first time in the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix held at the Shanghai International Circuit. The event will feature a 19-lap Sprint Race on Saturday before the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
Under the Sprint format, the weekend schedule differs from a traditional race weekend. Sprint Qualifying takes place on Friday to determine the grid for the Sprint Race, while the standard qualifying session on Saturday still sets the starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Sprint Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 14:30 local time in Shanghai, which corresponds to 13:30 WIB (Western Indonesia Time). The session lasts approximately 44 minutes, shorter than the traditional one-hour qualifying used for the main race.
Below is the full schedule for the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix adjusted to WIB (Western Indonesia Time).
| Session | Day & Date | Time (WIB) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, 13 March 2026 | 09:30 – 10:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday, 13 March 2026 | 13:30 – 14:14 |
| Sprint Race | Saturday, 14 March 2026 | 09:00 – 10:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, 14 March 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 |
| Race | Sunday, 15 March 2026 | 13:00 – 15:00 |
The Sprint Race on Saturday will award points to the top eight finishers, while the traditional qualifying session later the same day determines the starting grid for the main Grand Prix.
The Chinese Grand Prix marks the second round of the 2026 Formula 1 season following the opening race in Australia, with teams continuing to adapt to the championship’s new technical regulations.
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