The Sprint Shootout is a new format introduced by Formula One for the 2023 season. It follows the same three-session knockout format as usual qualifying, but each Q1, Q2, and Q3 segment has been shortened to 12 minutes. The Sprint Shootout acts as a standalone qualifying session for the sprint race and takes place on the Saturday of the race weekend, prior to the sprint race itself. The sprint race is a much-shortened version of the Grand Prix, covering 100km of the circuit hosting the event. The sprint race is a condensed race that takes place over 100km, and unlike prior seasons, qualifying for the race takes place on Saturday before the actual sprint race takes place later on the same day. The sprint race was introduced to spice up certain races, offering venues the chance to effectively have three days of competitive running (Qualifying on Friday, a sprint race on Saturday, race on Sunday) rather than an entire Friday dedicated to practice sessions. The new format has been met with mixed reception and remains controversial, with some drivers criticizing it.