Formula 1 Revamps 2027 Calendar With 10 Sprint Races! Get Ready for More High-Speed Action!

Formula 1 is set to significantly increase its sprint race calendar for the 2027 World Championship, expanding the number of sprint events from six to ten. This expansion introduces sprint races to several new locations including Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco, and Abu Dhabi. Established sprint venues such as Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil, and Qatar will also continue to host these shorter Saturday races, which are accompanied by an additional qualifying session on Friday.

The 2027 season is tentatively scheduled to commence in Bahrain from March 12-14, followed by Saudi Arabia a week later. However, the viability of both events, along with the 2026 season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, remains uncertain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While Bahrain typically serves as the season opener, Australia has hosted the first Grand Prix in recent years, influenced by the timing of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Formula 1 is actively developing contingency plans for these races and considering alternative opening schedules should the situation in the Middle East render racing impossible by the end of this year. This comes amid calls for "maximum restraint" from a summit of affected nations.

Adding to the excitement of the 2027 calendar is the re-introduction of races in Portugal and Turkey. These circuits will make their return for the first time since their temporary inclusion as placeholder events during the global pandemic, reflecting a blend of tradition and innovation in the sport's global footprint.

Sprint events are highly sought after by race organizers, despite often coming at a higher price, primarily because they boost ticket sales by providing competitive action across all three days of a race weekend, rather than just Saturday and Sunday. The British Grand Prix, for instance, attributed its record-high attendance – an increase of 64,000 fans compared to the previous non-sprint year – largely to the inclusion of a sprint event.

The decision to hold a sprint event in Monaco has garnered particular attention. While the historic street circuit is notoriously difficult for overtaking, F1 is promoting the unique aspect of having two separate qualifying sessions. Qualifying in Monaco is a seasonal highlight, and the prospect of two distinct grid orders could introduce greater variability and drama to the weekend's proceedings, even if the sprint race itself might see limited positional changes after the first lap due to the track's nature.

Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed enthusiasm for the expanded calendar, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Portugal and Turkey to the championship and to expand sprint racing to 10 events, giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action that make our sport so special." Echoing this sentiment, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, highlighted that the 2027 calendar is a "strong reflection of the global appeal and continued growth of our sport," combining "tradition, innovation and fan engagement while maintaining the highest sporting standards" across 24 Grands Prix on five continents.

Pre-season testing for the 2027 season is scheduled to take place in Bahrain from February 24-27.

The full 2027 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar is as follows:

• March 12-14, Bahrain
• March 19-21, Saudi Arabia
• April 2-4, Australia
• April 9-11, Japan
• April 16-18, China
• April 30-May 2, Miami
• May 21-23, Canada
• June 4-6, Monaco
• June 18-20, Portugal
• July 2-4, Britain
• July 9-11, Austria
• July 23-25, Belgium
• July 30-August 1, Hungary
• September 3-5, Italy
• September 10-12, Spain
• September 24-26, Azerbaijan
• October 1-3, Turkey
• October 8-10, Singapore
• October 22-24, USA (Austin)
• October 29-31, Mexico
• November 5-7, Brazil
• November 18-20, Las Vegas
• December 3-5, Qatar
• December 10-12, Abu Dhabi