Every thing you should learn about Formulation 1’s Dash weekend format for the 2026 F1 season.
When and the place are the Dash weekends?
Six of F1’s 24 race weekends once more run to the Dash format within the 2026 season:
- March 13-15: Chinese language Grand Prix, Shanghai
- Could 1-3: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
- Could 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
- July 3-5: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
- August 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
- October 9/11: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
Canada, the Netherlands and Singapore will host Dash weekends for the primary time whereas the British Grand Prix returns as a Dash spherical for the primary time since 2021.
What’s F1 Dash?
The Dash format – with a short-form Saturday race as its centrepiece – was added to the F1 schedule at choose occasions from the 2021 season in a bid to additional boost the motion on tracks recognized to be good for overtaking, whereas additionally guaranteeing aggressive observe periods for followers attending the circuit and watching on TV on all three days of the race weekend.
Initially launched at simply three venues per season earlier than rising to 6 from 2023, such weekends function a rejigged schedule, with the Dash having its personal qualifying session on Friday earlier than a 100km race on Saturday, by which essential additional world championship factors are on supply.
What’s the Dash weekend format?
Dash weekends start with a single free observe session on Friday, which as standard lasts for one hour.
Dash Qualifying will then comply with in a while Friday.
Saturday then open with the 100km Dash contest, with full Qualifying following later within the day, setting the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
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Mercedes’ teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli makes F1 historical past, changing into the youngest pole sitter, taking the Dash pole on the Miami GP
How does Dash Qualifying work?
The Friday session to set the Dash grid will comply with the identical format as final season, with every of its three elements working to the identical knockout guidelines as full Qualifying however to shorter durations to handle engine and tyre considerations.
- SQ1 is 12 minutes
- SQ2 is 10 minutes
- SQ3 is eight minutes
The preliminary intention is that every automotive solely has one flying lap in every session, though two runs may be accomplished in SQ1 whereas SQ2 and SQ3 do permit time for 2 timed laps with no pit cease in between makes an attempt.
The opposite important distinction between Dash Qualifying and full Qualifying are restrictions on tyre utilization within the former.
Whereas drivers are free to make use of any of their out there tyres in common qualifying, in Dash Qualifying they’re solely allowed to run one set of tyres in every half.
A brand new set of medium tyres is obligatory in SQ1 and SQ2, whereas a set of soppy tyres – new or in any other case – is obligatory in SQ3.
What’s the factors system for the Dash?
Factors for the Dash in 2026 stay unchanged.
A complete of 36 factors are on supply for the highest eight finishers in Saturday’s race. That is allotted as follows:
- 1st place – 8 factors
- 2nd place – 7 factors
- third place – 6 factors
- 4th place – 5 factors
- fifth place – 4 factors
- sixth place – 3 factors
- seventh place – 2 factors
- eighth place – 1 level
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Highlights of Dash from the Sao Paulo GP
Are there pit stops within the F1 Dash?
Pit stops are few and much between given how brief a Dash is.
In contrast to the Grand Prix, there isn’t any obligatory change of tyres required and, except vehicles endure injury or puncture or it rains, do not anticipate them to go away the motion on observe for the pit lane between lights out and the chequered flag.
Drivers are free to run on no matter tyre compound – arduous, medium or delicate – that they need.
How usually can groups change their vehicles between periods?
Because the present Dash schedule was adopted, groups have had a second alternative to make setup adjustments to their vehicles by means of the weekend.
Automobiles nonetheless go into parc ferme when the primary aggressive session – Friday’s Dash Qualifying – begins, however they’re then launched from the restrictions after Saturday’s Dash.
Groups have the possibility to make use of the data they’ve gained to change setups forward of full Qualifying, initially of which they’ll as soon as extra be locked in for Sunday’s race.
Formulation 1 heads to Shanghai for the primary Dash weekend of the 2026 season on the Chinese language Grand Prix from this Friday, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
