Formula 1: United States sprint not being broadcast on ESPN
By Asher Fair
For the first time since Formula 1 introduced sprint racing, Circuit of the Americas is scheduled to host a sprint race ahead of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.
There are five races remaining on this year’s 22-race 2023 Formula 1 schedule and two sprint races remaining on this year’s six-race sprint schedule. Circuit of the Americas is scheduled to host one of each this coming weekend.
The 20-turn, 3.427-mile (5.515-kilometer) road course in Austin, Texas landed its first ever Formula 1 sprint race this season, which is the third season since sprint racing’s introduction to the sport.
Circuit of the Americas, which continues to host the official United States Grand Prix despite the addition of two new races in the States since last year, is one of four venues on this year’s sprint race schedule which had never previously hosted a sprint race.
Prior to 2023, there had been just three sprint races on the Formula 1 schedule.
In 2021, points were awarded to the top three drivers in these three races, and in 2022, they were awarded to the top eight. They continue to be awarded to the top eight, but sprint races no longer set the starting lineup for the main event.
The 2023 season has seen the introduction of sprint races as standalone events. So Saturday’s sprint race will have no bearing on the starting lineup for the United States Grand Prix, which has grown to the point where it has become the most well-attended even on the Formula 1 calendar.
The first two sprint races of the year were shown live on ESPN, while the next one was aired on ESPN2. The most recent one was aired on ESPNEWS. Both of the remaining two sprint races on this year’s schedule, including Saturday’s, are set to be broadcast live on ESPNEWS.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the three-time reigning world champion, is the two-time reigning winner of the United States Grand Prix.
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The sprint race is set to be broadcast live on ESPNEWS from Circuit of the Americas this Saturday beginning at 5:55 p.m. ET. ABC is set to broadcast the United States Grand Prix itself live beginning at 2:55 p.m. ET this Sunday, October 22. Take advantage of FuboTV’s free trial offer now and don’t miss it!