The Interlagos Circuit plays host to the final 'Sprint' weekend format of the 2022 F1 season, with additional points up for grabs on Saturday. This season's Sprints have already been held at Imola in Italy and the Red Bull Ring in Austria, with Brazil being the final event to secure the bonus points. The Brazilian Grand Prix location is the first repeat Sprint race venue, having also been one of the three chosen circuits in 2021, along with Silverstone and Monza. On a Sprint race weekend, qualifying is moved to Friday evening, followed by a 100-kilometre Sprint race on Saturday – the result of which determines the starting grid for the Grand Prix itself.
What is the points system?
The traditional three-session, knockout qualifying hour as we know it remains in place, taking place on Friday, and this determines the grid order for Saturday's Sprint. After backlash from drivers last season, Pole Position is still officially declared as being the driver who tops the Friday qualifying session. Last season, the winner of the Sprint was controversially awarded as the Pole Position winner in the record books. For 2022, the points-scoring system was modified to add greater importance to the Sprint races. Whereas points were only awarded to the top three finishers in 2021, this extended to the top eight for 2022. The winner of the Sprint will receive eight points, and second place will receive seven, with this continuing in descending order down to one point for finishing eighth – meaning plenty more prizes will be up for grabs. There is no additional fastest lap point in the Sprint, this remains only in the Grand Prix. The finishing order of the Sprint will determine the entire grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday, meaning the Sprint winner will start Sunday's race from the front.
Most read
