F1 Sprint Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2025 start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

Chinese Grand Prix

F1 Sprint Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2025 start times, schedule and how to watch live on TV

Sprint Races are back for 2025, and here's all you need to know about Quali on Friday

By Sheona Mountford.

Thursday 20 March 2025 22:00

This weekend's Chinese Grand Prix is the first sprint weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season, giving fans some extra racing to watch.

A chaotic weekend last time out in Australia opened the season with a bang, and there's no rest for the drivers as they've headed immediately to Shanghai for round two.

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The drivers will have limited time to prepare for the Chinese GP, with one free practice session before Sprint qualifying on Friday - particularly challenging considering the track has been resurfaced at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Introduced in 2021, the 100-kilometre Sprint race injects a shot of adrenaline into the traditional Grand Prix schedule, and will be held on Saturday, followed by the traditional qualifying session which sets the stage for the main race on Sunday.

When does F1 Sprint Qualifying start at the Chinese GP?

The first Sprint shootout of the 2025 season at the Chinese GP kicks off on Friday, March 21, at 3:30pm local time. Find the session start times converted to your local time zone below:

Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying - Friday, March 21 2025

Location	Start Time
Local Time (CST)	3:30 PM
New York, United States (ET)	3:30 AM
Chicago, United States (CT)	2:30 AM
Denver, United States (MT)	1:30 AM
Los Angeles, United States (PT)	12:30 AM
London, United Kingdom (GMT)	7:30 AM
Sydney, Australia (AEDT)	6:30 PM
Adelaide, Australia (ACDT)	6 PM
Perth, Australia (AWST)	3:30 PM
Mexico City, Mexico (CST)	1:30 AM
Berlin, Germany (CET)	8:30 AM
Tokyo, Japan (JST)	4:30 PM
Cape Town, South Africa (SAST)	9:30 AM
Cairo, Egypt (EEST)	9:30 AM
Beijing, China (CST)	3:30 PM
New Delhi, India (IST)	1 PM
São Paulo, Brazil (BRT)	4:30 AM
Singapore, Singapore (SGT)	3:30 PM

How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying live on TV today

Broadcast details vary depending on your location. Check below to see how to tune in for some major countries:

Country	Broadcaster(s)
United States	ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Mexico	Fox Sports Mexico, Televisa
Australia	Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo
United Kingdom	Sky Sports
Italy	Sky Italia
Belgium	RTBF, Play Sports
Netherlands	Viaplay, Viaplay Xtra
Spain	DAZN F1
Canada	RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo
Germany	Sky Deutschland, RTL
France	Canal+
Singapore	beIN SPORTS
China	CCTV, Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television Channel, Tencent
Japan	Fuji TV, DAZN
Hungary	M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)
Brazil	Bandeirantes, Bandsports
Austria	Servus TV, ORF
Middle East & Turkey	beIN SPORTS
Africa	SuperSport
India	FanCode
Latin America	ESPN

F1TV Pro also carries coverage of the sport, depending on which territory you are in.

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Daniel Ricciardo FIA Chinese Grand Prix