30th June to 2nd July is going to be a busy time at the Red Bull Ring, with a very full programme of events. As in 2022, there will be a sprint on the Saturday, but this time in a new format. The new format ensures that there will be something at stake on each of the three days, including the Friday when the likes of Max Verstappen will be battling it out for pole position in Sunday’s Austrian GP. After a 60-minute practice session in the morning, it’s straight down to business on Friday afternoon with qualifying for the race itself.
Unlike in 2022, Saturday is completely dedicated to the sprint. Instead of the free practice in the morning, there will be a shortened qualifying, the so-called sprint shootout. This will determine the starting grid for the prologue in the afternoon. The tyres are the same for everyone in the sprint shootout: mediums in the first two sessions, and softs in SQ3. The drivers then have a free choice of tyre compound in the sprint itself.
Timetable for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix
Friday 30th June 2023: Free Practice & Qualifying
Saturday 1st July 2023: Sprint Shootout & Sprint
Sunday 2nd July 2023: Grand Prix
Subject to change
Sprint is back
