F1 qualifying usually takes place on Saturday afternoon of a race weekend, but the exact time depends on the specific Grand Prix and your local time zone.

Core answer

  • Standard race weekends: Qualifying is held the day before the race, typically on Saturday, in a single one-hour session (Q1, Q2, Q3).
  • Sprint weekends: On “sprint” events, the schedule is shuffled, and the main Grand Prix qualifying can move to Friday, with a separate sprint session on Saturday.
  • Because times vary by circuit and broadcaster, the most accurate way to know when F1 qualifying is for the next race is to check the official Formula 1 schedule or your local TV/streaming listings for that specific event.

How qualifying works (quick scoop)

  • Qualifying is split into three segments: Q1, Q2 and Q3, with the slowest cars eliminated after each phase until the top 10 fight for pole position.
  • The final grid for Sunday’s race is set by the results of this session, unless special sprint or penalty rules for that weekend apply.

If you want today’s session

To know the exact start time today for F1 qualifying in your region:

  1. Go to the official Formula 1 website’s current-season calendar.
  1. Look up the next race and open the “Schedule” or “Race weekend” tab to see qualifying time.
  1. Cross-check with your local broadcaster’s TV guide or app for your time zone.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.