F1 Sprint Race: How does this race work in the United States Grand Prix?

It's the weekend of the of the United States Grand Prix, which will be hosted at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The race in the Lone Star state has been on the calendar since November 2012, and occurs at a 3.426 mile long circuit, with the main race on the Sunday running for 56 laps.

The most successful driver around the track is Lewis Hamilton, who has won five times at this particular track but not since 2017.

Reigning three-time world champion, Max Verstappen, has won the previous two races in 2021 and 2022 and bids to make it a hat-trick this weekend.

What is the point of the sprint race in F1?

The weekend will feature a unique format as COTA hosts its first F1 Sprint weekend, which will see an additional qualifying and race replace two free-practice sessions.

Sprints were introduced in 2021 as part of a bid by the sport to improve the show for the fans and to improve the opportunities for drivers to race and score more points, with the winner of a Sprint Race collecting eight points to add to their tally for the championship and close in on their aspirations and connected permutations.

It has had a mixed reception, with drivers such as Verstappen not being a fan of the traditional format being tinkered and changed with, whilst fans have enjoyed the chance to witness more wheel-to-wheel action over a weekend.

What is the difference between the Sprint Race and the normal race in F1?

Sprint Races run for a shorter distance, one third of the regular F1 race. Therefore, drivers can essentially push from start to finish, whilst the main race requires more management in order to make the strategies work and to protect the cars.

There is also no mandatory pit-stop in the F1 Sprint Race, meaning that drivers can use one compound of tire for the duration of the race.

Aside from potential damages caused by reliability and crashes, the results of the F1 Sprint Race do not impact the main race after a change in 2022 in order to encourage racers to take more risks.

Penalties incurred in a Sprint can be awarded either in the race or for the following one the next day, though that is at the discretion of the race stewards.