2026 F1 Dutch Gp: Full Friday practice Schedule and Sprint Qualifying Start Time…Read more

Formula 1 returns to action at Zandvoort this weekend for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, with the event featuring the Sprint format for the first time at the famous Dutch circuit.
Friday, August 21, marks the beginning of on-track action, with teams having just one practice session before immediately switching their attention to Sprint Qualifying. The session will determine the starting grid for Saturday’s Sprint race.
For fans watching in the United Kingdom, Sprint Qualifying begins at 3:30pm BST on Friday. The session is expected to last approximately 45 minutes, with drivers battling through the shortened qualifying format for the best possible position on the Sprint grid.
Friday’s F1 schedule
11:30am – Free Practice 1
3:30pm – Sprint Qualifying
The single practice session gives drivers only one hour to familiarise themselves with their cars and fine-tune their setups before parc fermé conditions come into effect. That makes Friday particularly important, as there is limited opportunity to correct mistakes before Sprint Qualifying.
Saturday’s schedule
The action continues on Saturday, August 22, with the Sprint taking centre stage before conventional qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
11:00am – Sprint
3:00pm – Grand Prix Qualifying
Sunday – Dutch Grand Prix
The weekend concludes on Sunday, August 23, with the main event at Zandvoort.
2:00pm – Dutch Grand Prix
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix is particularly significant because this year’s event is expected to be the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort for the foreseeable future. The circuit’s narrow, high-speed layout and limited overtaking opportunities could make qualifying and Sprint grid position especially important.
With the championship battle continuing to develop, Friday’s opening practice session will provide teams with their first opportunity to assess performance after the summer break. However, there will be little time to experiment, with Sprint Qualifying arriving only a few hours later.