Question 1

How are points awarded in race and sprint sessions?

Accepted Answer

Article A2.2.3 awards race points to the top 10 finishers on a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 scale. Article A2.2.4 awards sprint points to the top 8 finishers on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Race points table source: FIA Formula One Championship Regulations 2026, Section A, Article A2.2.3. Sprint points table source: FIA Formula One Championship Regulations 2026, Section A, Article A2.2.4.

Question 2

What is the difference between standard and sprint weekends?

Accepted Answer

Article B2.1.3 defines two formats: standard and alternative. Article B2.1.5 sets the standard order (FP1 Friday, FP2 Saturday, qualifying Saturday, race Sunday). Article B2.1.7 sets the alternative sprint order (practice and sprint qualifying Friday, sprint and qualifying Saturday, race Sunday). Weekend format source: FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations 2026, Section B, Article B2.1.3. Standard format source: Article B2.1.5. Alternative sprint format source: Article B2.1.7.

Question 3

How does qualifying work?

Accepted Answer

Article B2.2.1 sets qualifying as Q1 (18 minutes, slowest 5 eliminated), Q2 (15 minutes, slowest 5 eliminated), and Q3 (12 minutes) for the top 10. Article B2.2.4 sets sprint qualifying as SQ1 (12 minutes), SQ2 (10 minutes), and SQ3 (8 minutes), with 5 eliminated in SQ1 and SQ2. Qualifying format source: Article B2.2.1. Sprint qualifying format source: Article B2.2.4.

Question 4

When is Safety Car used versus Virtual Safety Car?

Accepted Answer

Article B5.12.1 states Safety Car can neutralize practice, sprint qualifying, sprint, qualifying, or race sessions. Article B5.13.1 states VSC can be used when yellow flags are not sufficient but Safety Car is not required; Article B5.13.2 says VSC starts when 'VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED' is shown on timing monitors. Safety Car source: Article B5.12.1. VSC source: Articles B5.13.1 and B5.13.2.

Question 5

What are parc ferme basics?

Accepted Answer

Article B3.5.1 says from the planned start of qualifying and from the start of pit lane for the race until race start, cars are in parc ferme and may not be worked on except where the regulations specifically allow it. Parc ferme source: FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations 2026, Section B, Article B3.5.1.

Question 6

What penalty types can stewards apply?

Accepted Answer

Article B1.10.1 lists steward penalties including time penalties (5s and 10s), drive-through, 10-second stop-and-go, drop of grid positions for the next race, penalties under Articles B2.6.2 a) and b), and disqualification. Penalty list source: FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations 2026, Section B, Article B1.10.1.

Question 7

What changed this season?

Accepted Answer

FIA World Motor Sport Council notes published changes approved for 2026 sporting rules. FIA states the main sporting changes approved for 2026 include abolition of the limitation on the number of gearboxes used by teams. FIA states the upper limit of operational personnel for 2026 increases to 60, with exclusions for Force Majeure circumstances.

F1 Rules Made Easy (2026)

Learn F1 rules in under 2 minutes

How are points awarded in race and sprint sessions?

What is the difference between standard and sprint weekends?

How does qualifying work?

What penalty types can stewards apply?

Quick answers library (2026)

Learn F1 rules in under 2 minutes

How are points awarded in race and sprint sessions?

What is the difference between standard and sprint weekends?

How does qualifying work?

What penalty types can stewards apply?

Quick answers library (2026)

How are points awarded in race and sprint sessions?+

What is the difference between standard and sprint weekends?+

How does qualifying work?+

When is Safety Car used versus Virtual Safety Car?+

What are parc ferme basics?+

What penalty types can stewards apply?+

What changed this season?+