F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Formula 1 to reduce Friday sessions to 60 minutes in 2021

Formula 1 will reduce its Friday practice session to 60 minutes next season according to the most recent version of its 2021 sporting regulations.

The opening day of running on Grand Prix weekend has traditionally been comprised of two 90-minute sessions of free practice.

While neither the FIA nor F1 have confirmed the change, Article 32.1 of the provisional sporting rules states the following:

"Two free practice sessions (P1 and P2), each lasting one hour and separated by at least two and a half hours, will take place on the second day [Friday] of the Event."

Saturday's timing will remain unchanged, with a 60-minute practice session kicking off the day and followed in the afternoon by qualifying.

The changes, should they be confirmed, are likely intended to slightly lighten the financial and practical burden on the teams in a season that is set to include a record 23 events.

However, F1 is reportedly mulling the implementation of a few two-day race weekends, such as the one that took place at Imola this year.

The format would not include any running on Friday, with teams taking part in a single practice session on Saturday ahead of qualifying.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Hamilton admits to costly Ferrari tyre call: 'We were in trouble'

Lewis Hamilton achieved a top-three finish in Sepang on Sunday and yet he knew almost…

2 hours ago

FIA explains bizarre power losses that delayed Bahrain GP start

The FIA has explained why several Formula 1 cars suddenly lost power on the formation…

3 hours ago

Russell left ‘beyond disappointment’ after Sepang heartbreak

George Russell had every reason to feel hard done by after Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix…

3 hours ago

Verstappen explains near-disaster PU issue at start of Bahrain GP

Max Verstappen’s path to victory at Sepng was nearly derailed before he could even complete…

4 hours ago

Bahrain GP: Verstappen takes first win of 2026 amid chaos in Sepang

The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia finally got under way after a lengthy delay,…

5 hours ago

2026 Bahrain Grand Prix - Race results

Full race results from the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, round 16 of the…

5 hours ago