How long is an F1 race?

How long are F1 races?

F1 races are approximately 90 minutes long, but some races will last longer or shorter due to the length or style of the circuit.

The minimum race distance required during a Grand Prix is 190 miles (305 km). However, there is an exception for only one circuit - Monaco. This track is very short and technical, requiring more time for drivers to complete the minimum race distance of 190 miles. By reducing the race distance to 160 miles, the duration of the race aligns closer to the approximate 90-minute mark per race.

However, several factors can extend the length of an F1 race. For example, the following circumstances can play a part:

• Bad weather conditions
• Debris on track
• Damaged barriers or other circuit elements

If these circumstances occur, the FIA may decide to suspend the race. However, an F1 race can have a maximum duration of 3 hours. There have been occasions where the race did not start due to certain circumstances or was suspended after a certain number of laps

F1: How many laps per track

The amount of laps differ due to length of circuit, which was mentioned above regarding the Monaco street circuit. For example, the Belgian Grand Prix has much fewer laps compared to other tracks due to the long length of the track.

There are fewer laps needed to achieve the minimum race distance of 190 miles compared to other tracks, and Spa-Francorchamps is the longest F1 track on the calendar.

Thereby, the Monaco GP has the most numbert of laps with a total of 78. The Belgian Grand Prix has the least amount of laps with 44. The average amount of laps per F1 track is 60.25.

In the table below, we show you the amount of laps and race distance for every F1 track.

How long are F1 sprint races?

In 2021, F1 introduced sprint races, which are shortened races compared to the Grand Prix. Initially, the FIA planned three sprint weekends until 2022, but there are now six within a season. This year, the following GPs include a sprint weekend:

• China
• Miami
• Austria
• Austin (USA)
• Brazil
• Qatar

A sprint race is always around 100 km (62 miles) and lasts around 30 minutes. However, sprint races cannot last longer than 60 minutes. The duration of F1 sprint races depends on the track. For example, Austria is a relatively short circuit, which will have more laps than the United States Grand Prix, a longer circuit with fewer laps for a sprint race.

What is the longest an F1 race lasted?

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix was the longest F1 race, lasting an incredible four hours, four minutes, and 39 seconds. The Grand Prix experienced an immense amount of rain, resulting in numerous safety cars, red flags, and significant delays. In 2021, the FIA announced a reduction to the maximum duration of a Grand Prix from four to three hours.

Why do F1 drivers receive fewer points if they do not complete all laps?

If due to circumstances fewer laps are completed compared to the full laps of a Grand Prix, fewer points may be awarded. In such cases, the FIA considers the percentage of laps completed relative to the full race distance to determine the points awarded.

For example, completing over 75% of the race awards full points. The minimum to receive points is completing more than two laps but less than 25% of the scheduled race.

This occurred during the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix where Max Verstappen won and received 12.5 points, Russell finished second with 9 points, and Hamilton ended third with 7.5 points.

However, they were unable to race and only completed a few laps behind the safety car, reaching the two-lap minimum required for points. In between, the drivers had to wait a very long time after the session was suspended and became bored.

Watch the video below to see how this unfolded.