F1 Belgian GP sprint qualifying and race - Start time, how to watch & more

Formula 1’s sprint race format tweaks get its third outing, this time at the Belgian Grand Prix. Here’s how and when to watch the sprint qualifying and sprint race. 

F1 has turned its sprint race into a standalone Saturday event, with sprint qualifying deciding the starting grid followed by the sprint race later in the day. Here’s how the latest sprint race format changes will work. 

During qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the fastest lap time in Q3 but will start from sixth place due to a five-place grid drop for a gearbox change. 

That hands Charles Leclerc pole position for Ferrari, his second of the season, and he will be joined on the front row by Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull. 

What time does sprint qualifying start for the F1 Belgian Grand Prix? 

Sprint qualifying for the Belgian GP starts at 12:00pm local time (11:00am BST), using a shorter version of the traditional Q1, Q2 and Q3 knockout session format. 

Date: Saturday 29 July 2023
Start time: 12:00pm local time – 11:00am BST 

What time does the sprint race start for the F1 Belgian Grand Prix? 

The sprint race for the Belgian GP starts at 4:30pm local time (3:30pm BST), covering a distance of 15 laps or 60 minutes. 

Date: Saturday 29 July 2023
Start time: 4:30pm local time – 3:30pm BST 

Source: Autosport