How a Formula 1 grand prix weekend is structured, from Friday practice to the chequered flag.
A standard grand prix weekend runs across three days. Friday hosts two one-hour practice sessions (FP1 and FP2), Saturday hosts a final practice session (FP3) followed by qualifying, and Sunday is the race. Teams use practice to tune the car and gather tyre data.
Qualifying is a three-stage knockout. Q1 sees all 20 cars run and the slowest five are eliminated. Q2 does the same for the next 15 down to 10, and Q3 decides the top-10 order. The fastest driver in Q3 takes pole position for Sunday's race.
The race is a standing start after a formation lap, run to roughly 300 km or a two-hour limit (whichever comes first). Drivers make at least one pit stop to change tyres, and the first car to take the chequered flag wins.
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