F1 has once again changed its sprint race calendar, with qualifying for the sprint races moved to Friday and the sprint race to Saturday. The race weekend format then returns to a traditional schedule for Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Here’s how the latest changes to the sprint race format will work.
In qualifying for the sprint race, McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position, but only after his fastest lap time was initially deleted and then reinstated for violating track limits.
Q3 of sprint qualifying was hit by rain, making conditions extremely difficult and slippery, triggering multiple exits, including Charles Leclerc’s stare out of the Turn 9 barrier.
Lewis Hamilton will join Norris on the front row of the grid for the Chinese GP sprint race, ahead of Fernando Alonso in third and championship leader Max Verstappen in fourth.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will start fifth ahead of Sergio Perez and Leclerc’s sister Red Bull, while Oscar Piastri dropped to eighth after hitting neutral with a gearbox problem on his final lap in Q3 .
It was an impressive performance for Sauber with Valtteri Bottas ninth and local hero Zhou Guanyu 10th, becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in their domestic Grand Prix.
Zhou Guanyu, Sauber C44 kick
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
What time does the F1 Chinese Grand Prix sprint race start?
The Chinese GP sprint race begins at 11:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. BST), covering a distance of 19 laps or 60 minutes.
Date: Saturday April 20, 2024
Start time: 11:00 local time – 4:00 BST
What time does F1 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying start?
Grand Prix qualifying for the Chinese GP begins at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. BST), using the traditional knockout session format of Q1, Q2 and Q3.
Date: Saturday April 20, 2024
Start time: 3:00 p.m. local time – 8:00 a.m. BST
How can I watch Formula 1?
In the United Kingdom, Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the exception of the British GP which is broadcast live on Sky Sports and Channel 4, with highlights broadcast on Channel 4 several hours after the end of the race. Live streaming via NOW is also available in the UK.
Sky Sports F1, which shows F1 races, can be added to Sky Sports channels which cost £18 per month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed via NOW with a one-off daily payment of £11.99 or a monthly subscription of £34.99 per month.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
How can I watch the Chinese GP F1 sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying?
In the UK, all F1 testing, qualifying and races are shown live on Sky Sports F1, with coverage of the Chinese GP sprint races from 3:25am BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1, and Grand Prix qualifying coverage from 7:00am BST on Sky Sports Sky Sports F1 Main Event.
Channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1
Start time – Sprint Race: 03:25 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Start time – Qualifications: 7:00 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Autosport will broadcast live text coverage of the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying here.
When can I watch highlights of the F1 Chinese GP sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying?
In the UK, Channel 4 is showing highlights of the Chinese GP sprint race and grand prix qualifying at 12:15 BST on Saturday afternoon. The full program will last 90 minutes, covering both the sprint races and Grand Prix qualifying and closing out the main talking points from the race weekend so far.
Throughout the 2024 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights from every qualifying and race at every event. Highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on-demand catch-up services.
Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 12:15 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Will the F1 Chinese GP sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying be broadcast on radio?
Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race of the 2024 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.
Coverage of the Chinese GP sprint race will begin at 3:55am BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.
Coverage of Chinese GP qualifying will begin at 7:55am BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.
What is the weather forecast for the sprint race and grand prix qualifying in Shanghai?
Cloudy and dry conditions with a slight chance of rain are forecast for all of Saturday in Shanghai. The temperature is expected to reach 22 degrees Celsius at the start of the sprint race and 23 degrees Celsius at the start of Grand Prix qualifying.
F1 has once again changed its sprint race calendar, with qualifying for the sprint races moved to Friday and the sprint race to Saturday. The race weekend format then returns to a traditional schedule for Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday afternoon and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Here’s how the latest changes to the sprint race format will work.
In qualifying for the sprint race, McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position, but only after his fastest lap time was initially deleted and then reinstated for violating track limits.
Q3 of sprint qualifying was hit by rain, making conditions extremely difficult and slippery, triggering multiple exits, including Charles Leclerc’s stare out of the Turn 9 barrier.
Lewis Hamilton will join Norris on the front row of the grid for the Chinese GP sprint race, ahead of Fernando Alonso in third and championship leader Max Verstappen in fourth.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will start fifth ahead of Sergio Perez and Leclerc’s sister Red Bull, while Oscar Piastri dropped to eighth after hitting neutral with a gearbox problem on his final lap in Q3 .
It was an impressive performance for Sauber with Valtteri Bottas ninth and local hero Zhou Guanyu 10th, becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in their domestic Grand Prix.
Zhou Guanyu, Sauber C44 kick
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
What time does the F1 Chinese Grand Prix sprint race start?
The Chinese GP sprint race begins at 11:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. BST), covering a distance of 19 laps or 60 minutes.
Date: Saturday April 20, 2024
Start time: 11:00 local time – 4:00 BST
What time does F1 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying start?
Grand Prix qualifying for the Chinese GP begins at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. BST), using the traditional knockout session format of Q1, Q2 and Q3.
Date: Saturday April 20, 2024
Start time: 3:00 p.m. local time – 8:00 a.m. BST
How can I watch Formula 1?
In the United Kingdom, Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the exception of the British GP which is broadcast live on Sky Sports and Channel 4, with highlights broadcast on Channel 4 several hours after the end of the race. Live streaming via NOW is also available in the UK.
Sky Sports F1, which shows F1 races, can be added to Sky Sports channels which cost £18 per month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed via NOW with a one-off daily payment of £11.99 or a monthly subscription of £34.99 per month.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
How can I watch the Chinese GP F1 sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying?
In the UK, all F1 testing, qualifying and races are shown live on Sky Sports F1, with coverage of the Chinese GP sprint races from 3:25am BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1, and Grand Prix qualifying coverage from 7:00am BST on Sky Sports Sky Sports F1 Main Event.
Channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1
Start time – Sprint Race: 03:25 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Start time – Qualifications: 7:00 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Autosport will broadcast live text coverage of the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying here.
When can I watch highlights of the F1 Chinese GP sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying?
In the UK, Channel 4 is showing highlights of the Chinese GP sprint race and grand prix qualifying at 12:15 BST on Saturday afternoon. The full program will last 90 minutes, covering both the sprint races and Grand Prix qualifying and closing out the main talking points from the race weekend so far.
Throughout the 2024 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights from every qualifying and race at every event. Highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on-demand catch-up services.
Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 12:15 BST Saturday 20 April 2024
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Will the F1 Chinese GP sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying be broadcast on radio?
Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race of the 2024 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.
Coverage of the Chinese GP sprint race will begin at 3:55am BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.
Coverage of Chinese GP qualifying will begin at 7:55am BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.
What is the weather forecast for the sprint race and grand prix qualifying in Shanghai?
Cloudy and dry conditions with a slight chance of rain are forecast for all of Saturday in Shanghai. The temperature is expected to reach 22 degrees Celsius at the start of the sprint race and 23 degrees Celsius at the start of Grand Prix qualifying.