Out of the 24 race weekends in the 2024 Formula 1 season, 6 of them were sprint ones. A weekend like this features a shorter, standalone race called the Sprint, which is typically around 100 kilometers and held on Saturday. The results of the Sprint do not affect the main race starting grid but award points to the top eight finishers (8 points for first place, 7 for second,…).

The weekend also includes a separate qualifying session on Friday to determine the starting order for Sunday’s Grand Prix, because of which drivers only have one practice session to gather valuable data.

The six sprint events in 2024 (in China, Miami, Austria, Texas, Brazil and Qatar) delivered plenty of action and surprises, with some drivers using the shorter format to shine while others struggled to match their performance in traditional races.

1. Max Verstappen (Championship position: 1st)

• sprint points: 38 
• overall points: 437

Max Verstappen dominated the sprint standings, securing four wins and 38 points to cap off his stellar season. His sprint performances showcased the same consistency and pace that saw him comfortably clinch his fourth consecutive championship.

2. Oscar Piastri (Championship position: 4th)

• sprint points: 30
• overall points: 292

Oscar Piastri’s second season was nothing short of remarkable, with a strong showing in the sprints. His 30 points came from consistently strong finishes, including one win and two second places, which place him higher in the sprint standings than Norris.

3. Lando Norris (Championship position: 2nd)

• sprint points: 30
• overall points: 374

Lando Norris matched his teammate in sprint points, but his single win wasn’t enough to surpass Piastri, who secured more second-place finishes. The Briton’s consistency in the main races, however, secured him second in the overall standings.

4. Charles Leclerc (Championship position: 3rd)

• sprint points: 29 
• overall points: 356

Charles Leclerc narrowly missed out on a higher sprint ranking, finishing just one point behind Norris. His performances highlighted Ferrari’s competitiveness in the shorter format, though he couldn’t quite replicate the consistency needed in the main races on Sunday in order to challenge Verstappen for the title.

5. Carlos Sainz (Championship position: 5th)

• sprint points: 28
• overall points: 290

Carlos Sainz delivered solid performances throughout the sprints, finishing just a point behind Leclerc. However, his overall points tally showed a 66-point deficit to his teammate, suggesting Leclerc had the edge over a full race weekend.

6. Lewis Hamilton (Championship position: 7th)

• sprint points: 16 
• overall points: 223

Lewis Hamilton had a challenging season by his standards but managed 16 points in the sprints, including a strong second-place finish that set him apart from teammate George Russell. However, his lower overall tally compared to Russell’s 245 points reflected Mercedes’ struggles to find consistent form and Hamilton’s long-term battle with the car, which only a few years ago used to be dominant.

7. George Russell (Championship position: 6th)

• sprint points: 16 
• overall points: 245

George Russell’s 16 sprint points tied him with his teammate Hamilton, but placed him lower in this leaderboard as he didn’t make it to the podium in any of the six Sprint races this year. On the other hand, his superior overall performance saw him finish ahead of the seven-time world champion in the championship.

8. Sergio Perez (Championship position: 8th)

• sprint points: 14 
• overall points: 152

Sergio Perez had a season to forget, with his sprint results reflecting his overall struggles. Scoring just 14 points in the shorter format, his performances fell well short of Verstappen’s. The Mexican’s inability to deliver was the main reason why Red Bull finished only third in the Constructors’ Championship.

9. Daniel Ricciardo (Championship position: 17th)

• sprint points: 5
• overall points: 12

Despite being replaced by Liam Lawson after the Singapore Grand Prix and finishing seventeenth in the overall standings, Daniel Ricciardo managed to make it to the Sprint top 10 thanks to his fourth place at the Miami Grand Prix. He pulled off a brilliant drive, defending against drivers in way more competitive cars and holding his starting position to secure a well-deserved result.

10. Nico Hulkenberg (Championship position: 11th)

• sprint points: 5
• overall points: 41

Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on a top 10 finish in the overall standings, losing to Pierre Gasly by just one point. However, his consistent performances throughout the season and three points-scoring finishes in the sprints earned him the final spot in the Sprint top 10.