Formula 1 and the FIA have officially revealed the destinations set to host F1 Sprint events throughout the upcoming 2025 season. The upcoming year is significant as it marks the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship and the fifth installment of the Sprint series.
Earlier today, Formula 1 confirmed six venues will feature a Sprint in 2025 with Miami joining China, Belgium, Austin, Brazil and Qatar on the schedule to host the additional, shorter-format race. This will be Miami’s second time hosting a sprint race, while the U.S. Grand Prix featured a sprint race in 2023 as well.
This past May, over 275,000 spectators attended the Miami International Autodrome as the event held a Sprint race for the first time. With two Qualifying sessions, the Sprint and Grand Prix itself on the Sunday, fans were treated to a competitive spectacle across all three days.
São Paulo maintains its streak as a consistent venue for hosting the Sprint every year since 2021, and Belgium makes a return to the lineup after its last appearance in 2023. Shanghai and Miami will continue their roles as hosts for the Sprint for the second consecutive year, while Austin and Qatar make a comeback to the calendar for the third time.
Over the past four seasons, the Sprint format has produced thrilling races with multiple winners emerging from various parts of the grid, including notable names like Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, George Russell, Sergio Perez, and Oscar Piastri. The F1 Sprint has garnered enduring popularity since its inception in 2021, showcasing strong viewership across traditional broadcast, digital, and social platforms. This format not only adds an extra layer of excitement to the racing experience but also draws significant fan attendance on Sprint Fridays.
In 2024, live audience numbers for Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix recorded a remarkable 40% increase across the top 15 markets compared to average practice sessions for the first two races. The Miami Sprint broadcast attracted 946,000 viewers on ESPN, marking the largest US audience for a Sprint event since its introduction in 2021. Additionally, Sprint Qualifying viewership in Austria surged by 76% compared to FP2 sessions in the previous two European races. These successes follow a fruitful 2023 season where new Sprint locations contributed to an overall viewership boost, with Azerbaijan and Belgium standing out with increases of 15% and 22% respectively.
“We are thrilled to once again have the opportunity to host a Sprint race in 2025, which brings tremendous excitement and added energy to the race track and ultimately to the fans,” said Tyler Epp, President of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX. “The Sprint guarantees all three days will have competitive sessions, and the drivers and teams have to be on the pace right away. It was a huge success for us in 2024, and we can’t wait for the opportunity to deliver another world-class spectacle next May.”
First introduced in 2021, the Sprint is a 100km (62.14 mile) dash to the checkered flag, which is roughly one-third the distance of a standard Grand Prix. Five different winners have taken the top spot in the 15 Sprints to have been held in the past three years — with seven different pole position holders. There are no mandatory pitstops and eight points are awarded for the winner, descending to one point for eighth place. Both drivers and teams score points for their respective championships.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “The Sprint has been a great success for Formula 1, bringing all our fans more action and racing on the track. We are seeing the proof of this in our audience data, fan attendance on Fridays and from the promoters and partners. As we prepare to celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2025 we will always honour our incredible history, but we must always be looking ahead, innovating, and improving to deliver the best for our growing and diverse fanbase. The Sprint is a great example of bringing new elements to our sport in a way that is respectful of the Championship, and I want to thank the six venues that will host the Sprint in 2025 and look forward to those incredible events throughout the season.”