The 2025 System 1 season is up and operating however there isn’t a relaxation for the weary, from the drivers, to the groups, and even the followers who stayed up late — or wakened early — to absorb the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The grid heads to Shanghai for this weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix, as a double-header kicks off the F1 season. Past the fast turnaround, this weekend is an F1 Dash race weekend, which means the lap instances rely faster than regular.
Here’s a refresher on the F1 Dash race format.
What’s an F1 Dash race?
Launched for the 2021 F1 season to supply extra racing for followers, F1 Dash races are shorter occasions, simply 100 kilometers, that run early within the weekend along with the standard Grand Prix to shut out the week. For instance, at this weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix, the F1 Dash race can be simply 19 laps. There are not any obligatory tire adjustments or pit stops, and factors are awarded on a sliding scale much like a Grand Prix, however with fewer factors accessible and fewer drivers ending within the factors.
What’s the F1 Dash race weekend schedule?
The construction of F1 Dash race weekends has modified through the years, and a brand new format launched for 2023 remains to be in place for this season.
When F1 first launched the F1 Dash format in 2021, the format included a follow session on Friday adopted by F1 Dash Qualifying. Then on Saturday, there could be a second follow session, adopted by the F1 Dash race itself. The outcomes of the F1 Dash race would set the grid for the Grand Prix.
Modifications launched for 2023 have altered this format.
Now throughout an F1 Dash race weekend, similar to this weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix, there may be one single follow session on Friday, adopted by qualifying for the F1 Dash race.
Then on Saturday the primary F1 occasion is the F1 Dash race, adopted by qualifying for the Grand Prix later within the day.
Sunday brings the principle occasion, the Grand Prix itself.
How does qualifying work for F1 Dash races?
Qualifying for an F1 Dash Race is much like Grand Prix qualifying. There are three segments — termed SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 — and 5 drivers are eradicated on the finish of each SQ1 and SQ2. That leaves the ultimate ten in SQ3 vying for pole place.
Nonetheless, there are two noticeable adjustments.
First is the size of every phase. Throughout Grand Prix qualifying Q1 lasts 18 minutes, Q2 lasts quarter-hour, and Q3 lasts 12 minutes.
For F1 Dash qualifying, SQ1 lasts 12 minutes, SQ2 lasts 10 minutes, and SQ3 lasts simply 8 minutes. You higher get that strong lap in in your first run, as a result of relying on site visitors and the scale of the observe, you may not get one other probability.
The opposite main change? Tire allocation guidelines. Drivers are required to make use of the designated medium compound throughout each SQ1 and SQ2. Solely those that advance to SQ3 can bolt on the softs.
Can drivers rating Championship factors in an F1 Dash race?
Factors are on supply throughout an F1 Dash race, with the factors counting in each the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship.
Just like a Grand Prix, factors are awarded in descending style, solely a smaller quantity of factors can be found, and to only the highest eight finishers, not the highest ten finishers as in a Grand Prix.
P1 takes dwelling eight factors, with P2 taking dwelling seven, P3 taking dwelling six, P4 scoring 5 factors, P5 scoring 4 factors, P6 scoring three factors, P7 taking dwelling two factors, and P8 taking dwelling the ultimate level.
What are the parc fermé guidelines throughout F1 Dash weekends?
It is a change that F1 made final season and is carrying over to 2025.
Underneath the earlier F1 Dash format, after Friday’s qualifying session for the Dash, there was a second follow session on Saturday, forward of the F1 Dash, which set the grid for the Grand Prix.
Nonetheless, parc fermé guidelines have been in place following that F1 Dash qualifying session on Friday, which means groups couldn’t make setup adjustments to the automobile. That rendered the second follow session largely meaningless, and groups usually barely utilized the hour and as an alternative turned their focus to the F1 Dash itself.
Now, the timing of parc fermé guidelines is completely different over F1 Dash weekends. Vehicles are underneath parc fermé guidelines from the beginning of F1 Dash qualifying via the F1 Dash race itself, and parc fermé circumstances are lifted after the F1 Dash race. Which means groups can implement any adjustments to the automobiles primarily based on information acquired throughout the F1 Dash qualifying, and the F1 Dash itself, for qualifying for the Grand Prix, and the principle occasion on Sunday.
In essence, each session throughout an F1 Dash race weekend is important. There isn’t a “gradual buildup” to the Grand Prix on Sunday, as each minute within the automobile counts.
What number of F1 Dash races are there in 2025?
The Chinese language Grand Prix is the primary of six F1 Dash race weekends on the 2025 calendar. The opposite 5 races are: The Miami Grand Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix, the US Grand Prix, the São Paulo Grand Prix, and the Qatar Grand Prix.