After abolition

New name in F1 – is it causing confusion?

Beware, risk of confusion! Formula 1 is abolishing the term "Sprint Shootout" and reactivating the name "Sprint Qualifying". However, this could cause a lot of confusion.

At the start of the new season, the term "Sprint Shootout" will no longer exist. Qualifying for the sprint race will now be called Sprint Qualifying. A name that is very familiar to fans of motorsport's premier class.

It already existed in the 2021 season. At that time, the sprint, which had been introduced for the first time in Formula 1, was called that. The result of the sprint determined the starting grid for the Grand Prix - hence the name sprint qualifying.

This year, sprint qualifying is the qualifying session for the sprint race, NOT for the Grand Prix. A separate qualifying session is held for each race weekend. There is therefore a great risk of confusion ahead of the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain.

Six sprints - again in Spielberg 
There will be a total of six sprints this year: In addition to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, where a sprint race will be held for the third time, Austin, Sao Paulo and Lusail will also be back. New to the circle of sprint organizers are Shanghai and Miami.