News Summary
- A driver can earn a maximum of 33 points in an F1 sprint weekend: eight in the sprint and 25 in the Grand Prix.
- The top eight score points in the sprint, while the top 10 receive points in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
- Singapore hosts the final sprint weekend of 2026, giving Kimi Antonelli another opportunity to extend his championship lead over George Russell.
A Formula 1 driver can score a maximum of 33 championship points during a sprint weekend in 2026, compared with 25 at a conventional Grand Prix. The additional eight points come from Saturday’s shorter race, which awards championship points to the first eight finishers.
The scoring system is particularly relevant ahead of the Singapore GP on October 9-11. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives at Marina Bay 84 points ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell, with the sprint providing another opportunity for the gap to change before Sunday’s main race.
Singapore is also the sixth and final sprint event of the 2026 season, following China, Miami, Canada, Great Britain and the Netherlands.
How many points does an F1 sprint award?
The sprint awards points to the top eight finishers, with eight for the winner and one for eighth place.
| Position | Sprint points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 8 |
| 2nd | 7 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th | 1 |
| 9th or lower | 0 |
A total of 36 points is distributed among the eight scoring drivers, provided the full points allocation applies.
Unlike the Grand Prix, the sprint covers approximately 100km and normally lasts around 30 minutes. There is no mandatory pit stop, and finishing positions do not determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
How many points are awarded in the Grand Prix?
The main race retains Formula 1’s standard scoring system, with 25 points awarded to the winner and points available to the first 10 finishers.
| Position | Grand Prix points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 18 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 12 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 8 |
| 7th | 6 |
| 8th | 4 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
| 11th or lower | 0 |
There is no additional championship point for the fastest lap. Formula 1 removed that bonus at the beginning of the 2025 season, meaning a driver who wins both the sprint and Grand Prix receives exactly 33 points.
Pole position and sprint qualifying also award no championship points.
How can a driver score 33 points in one weekend?
To collect the maximum, a driver must win both Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Sprint victory | 8 |
| Grand Prix victory | 25 |
| Maximum weekend total | 33 |
A driver does not need to win both qualifying sessions to achieve that total. Sprint qualifying determines the starting grid for Saturday, while the regular qualifying session sets Sunday’s Grand Prix grid.
Because the two races are separate, a driver can score points in the sprint even if a penalty affects their starting position for the main race.
Why sprint points matter for Antonelli and Russell
The Singapore sprint could have a significant effect on the 2026 championship.
Antonelli leads Russell by 320 points to 236 after the Mercedes drivers experienced contrasting fortunes at Sepang. The Italian finished second, while Russell retired with a power-unit failure.
If Antonelli wins both Singapore races and Russell fails to score, the championship lead would increase from 84 to 117 points. Conversely, a perfect Russell weekend with no points for Antonelli would reduce the gap to 51.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO explained in its Singapore championship analysis, Antonelli cannot secure the title this weekend, but the results could put him in position to become champion at the United States GP.
Russell faces another complication because his Sepang engine failure has triggered a Singapore grid penalty. The penalty applies to the Grand Prix, leaving him able to compete normally for sprint points.
What is the F1 sprint weekend format?
A sprint weekend contains five Formula 1 track sessions across three days, but only one free-practice session instead of the usual three.
| Day | Session | Championship points? |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Free Practice 1 | No |
| Friday | Sprint Qualifying | No |
| Saturday | Sprint | Yes — up to 8 |
| Saturday | Grand Prix Qualifying | No |
| Sunday | Grand Prix | Yes — up to 25 |
Sprint qualifying uses three elimination stages, SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3. The result sets the sprint grid but does not determine the Grand Prix starting order.
The sprint format was introduced in 2021 and has undergone several changes. Since 2022, the first eight finishers have scored points, while the current separation between sprint qualifying and Grand Prix qualifying has been in place since 2024.
Singapore hosts its first sprint in 2026, with the complete Singapore GP schedule and start times available here.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the latest Formula 1 news throughout the 2026 season.
FAQ
What is the maximum number of points in an F1 sprint weekend?
A driver can earn 33 points by winning the sprint (8 points) and Grand Prix (25 points) during the same weekend.
