(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Silverstone to Host F1 Sprint Race at 2026 British Grand Prix
F1 fans have a thrilling update ahead of ticket sales for the 2026 British Grand Prix: Silverstone will host a sprint race for the first time in five years.
The iconic Northamptonshire circuit first staged a sprint race in 2021, with Max Verstappen taking victory. After a hiatus, the shortened weekend format — featuring four competitive sessions and just one hour of practice — returns for July 3-5, 2026. The announcement is expected to boost ticket sales, with general sales starting this Friday at 10 a.m.
Sprint Race Expansion in 2026
The 2026 season sees sprint races in Canada and Singapore for the first time, while Zandvoort will also host the format before the Dutch Grand Prix concludes next year. Traditional sprint venues like China and Miami remain, while Brazil, Belgium, Austin, and Qatar will no longer host sprints.
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali has hinted at more sprint races in future seasons, with discussions ongoing with stakeholders for 2027 and beyond.
Despite new engine and chassis regulations in 2026, six sprint races are confirmed, making up 25% of the season’s race weekends. Sprint weekends have proven popular, with television viewership up 10% on average compared to standard weekends. Notably, Lewis Hamilton scored his first “win” for Ferrari during a sprint race in China earlier this year.
Sprint Weekend Format
Sprint qualifying replaces the second practice session on Friday, while traditional qualifying remains on Saturday afternoon. The Saturday sprint race covers 100km — about a third of the Grand Prix distance — awarding points to the top eight finishers (8 points for first, down to 1 point for eighth).
The sprint qualifying format is shorter than standard qualifying: SQ1 lasts 12 minutes, SQ2 10 minutes, and SQ3 8 minutes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats all weekend.
2026 Sprint Race Calendar
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Chinese Grand Prix: 13-15 March
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Miami Grand Prix: 1-3 May
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Canadian Grand Prix: 22-24 May
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British Grand Prix: 3-5 July
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Dutch Grand Prix: 21-23 August
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Singapore Grand Prix: 9-11 October
With Silverstone back on the sprint calendar, the 2026 British Grand Prix promises to be an action-packed weekend for fans.
