TIME SCHEDULE

Check out the provisional schedule and plan your trip to the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at the International Shanghai Circuit.

General information about the F1 Grand Prix schedule that includes the F1 Sprint race

Practice 1 (FP1) allows teams and drivers to familiarise themselves with the track and conditions. They focus on initial car set-up and gather data on tyre performance and track characteristics.

Sprint qualifying determines the starting grid for the sprint race. It consists of several elimination parts, with the slowest drivers eliminated after each round until the fastest drivers compete for pole position in the final qualifying segment.

The sprint race is run over approximately 100 km and points are awarded to the first 8 drivers at the finish. Sprints were introduced in F1 in 2021 to make the grand prix weekends more attractive. In 2025 there are 6 sprint weekends on the schedule.

The qualifying determines the starting grid for the main race. It consists of several elimination rounds (Q1, Q2 and Q3), with the slowest drivers eliminated after each round until the fastest drivers compete for pole position in the final qualifying segment.

The race is the main event of the weekend. The race takes place on Sunday afternoon. Drivers compete in a predetermined number of laps, typically measuring approximately 305 kilometres (approximately 190 miles). Pit stops, tyre management and strategy play a key role in determining the outcome of the race.