Overview
- MotoGP announced the change on Wednesday and the revision was approved by teams at the Red Bull Ring.
- The new schedule reallocates Friday to a 45-minute FP1, a 30-minute FP2 and a 15-minute sprint qualifying session.
- Saturday will feature a 20-minute FP3 followed by a 15-minute Q1 and a 15-minute Q2, with the sprint race grid coming from Friday’s sprint qualifying and the grand prix grid from Saturday’s Q sessions.
- All riders will now take part in Q1 on Saturday with the fastest 12 advancing to Q2, replacing the previous system that used Friday practice to pre-seed Q2 places.
- Sunday’s traditional 10-minute warm-up is removed and replaced by a 10-minute pitlane opening for sighting laps, and reporting notes the timing of the change coincides with planned technical shifts such as new 850cc machines and a tyre-supplier move reported in coverage.