The 2027 Formula One schedule has been released, and once again the championship will feature a record-tying 24 Grand Prix weekends. While the sheer number of races draws attention, several notable adjustments are also on the agenda. Among the most talked‑about changes is a significant increase in Sprint events, highlighted by the surprising addition of the Monaco Grand Prix to the Sprint roster.
The traditional Middle‑Eastern rounds remain a fixture, and two beloved circuits are set to make a comeback. In July, Formula 1 confirmed that the number of Sprint weekends will rise to ten for the 2027 season, up from the six that have been held in each of the previous four years. A Sprint weekend follows a slightly altered format that debuted in 2021: Friday hosts a practice session, Saturday features a Sprint Qualifying session that determines the grid for a short 100‑kilometre race, and Sunday retains the standard Grand Prix qualifying and race.
The Sprint race awards points to the top eight finishers, and the format has already proven popular, delivering a 12 percent boost in global TV viewership compared with traditional weekends that include three practice sessions. The ten venues selected for Sprint action are split evenly between established Sprint hosts—Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos and Qatar’s Lusail circuit—and newcomers to the format, which include Sakhir (Bahrain), Albert Park (Australia), Suzuka (Japan), Monaco and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina. The points system and overall structure of the Sprint are expected to stay the same for 2027. Monaco’s inclusion has sparked particular debate.
The Principality has never run a Sprint, and its main Grand Prix is already notorious for being a procession rather than a battle of overtaking, due to the narrow, twisty streets lined with unforgiving barriers. Historically, the excitement in Monaco comes from the qualifying session, where drivers must thread their cars through a maze of concrete walls at the limit of adhesion. Adding a Sprint means there will now be two high‑stakes grid‑setting sessions in a single weekend, amplifying the pressure on drivers and teams. Moreover, the weekend will feature only a single practice session instead of the usual three.
This reduction could inject additional unpredictability into the order, as drivers will have less time to find rhythm and confidence on a circuit where even the slightest mistake can be costly. Sky Sports analyst Craig Slater summed up the sentiment: "Traditionally Sprints have been held at tracks where overtaking is easy.
Clearly that's not the case at Monaco, but the big bonus here is we'll have two red‑hot qualifying sessions. That's what that track is all about and the drivers will have the ultimate test on two occasions that weekend." For the first time, the season will both open and close with Sprint events. Bahrain will host the opening Sprint weekend on March 12‑14, while Abu Dhabi will conclude the championship with a Sprint on December 10‑12.
The season‑opening Sprint presents a unique challenge because teams will have only one practice session before the first competitive session—Sprint Qualifying—takes place on Friday evening. However, pre‑season testing at the same Sakhir circuit is scheduled for four days (February 24‑27), giving crews an extra day to gather data on the new 2027 cars, which should help mitigate the limited on‑track time. The double‑Sprint finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi also raises the prospect of the World Drivers' Championship being decided on a Saturday race, echoing the 2023 Qatar Sprint where Max Verstappen secured his third title. The four Middle‑Eastern rounds—Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi—bookend the 24‑race calendar, providing a dramatic start and finish.
Geopolitical tensions have already impacted the schedule. This year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled, and the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved to Malaysia on October 4 after originally being slated for April at Sakhir. Despite the uncertainty, Formula 1 officials intend to keep the 2026 closing Middle‑Eastern rounds as planned, with a decision deadline initially set for mid‑September but without a strict cutoff, allowing flexibility if conditions improve.
Should the Middle‑East events become untenable, the Imola circuit in Italy is earmarked as a contingency venue to conclude the season in December. The early‑season dates for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are still five months away, giving the sport and the FIA ample time to monitor the evolving situation. Meanwhile, the calendar continues to evolve on the European front. Although the total number of races remains at 24, there are no brand‑new venues for 2027.
Instead, the schedule sees the return of Portugal’s Portimão circuit and Turkey’s Istanbul Park, both of which last appeared in 2020‑2021 when the series added extra rounds to compensate for COVID‑related disruptions. Portimão will replace the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, which will enter a rotation with the Belgian Grand Prix and is slated to return in 2028. The Dutch Grand Prix, whose contract has ended, also makes way for these changes.
Portimão inherits the June slot previously occupied by Barcelona, while Turkey will slot in at the start of October, fitting into a slightly reshuffled post‑summer‑break sequence that will now stretch for five weeks. The season will wrap up on December 12, a week later than the current year and matching the joint‑latest finish date set in 2020. In addition to the traditional Sunday races, several events—including the Azerbaijan Grand Prix—will be held on Saturdays, adding variety to the viewing schedule. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW for those who prefer a contract‑free option.
Overall, the 2027 Formula 1 calendar promises a blend of familiar challenges and fresh twists. The expanded Sprint programme, the historic inclusion of Monaco, the strategic placement of Middle‑Eastern rounds, and the re‑introduction of beloved European circuits all combine to create a season that is likely to be as unpredictable as it is exciting. Teams will need to adapt quickly to the reduced practice time, drivers will face heightened pressure on circuits that test precision over outright speed, and the championship battle could hinge on the outcomes of the newly introduced Sprint events.
The stage is set for a compelling year of racing, with plenty of storylines to follow from the first lap in Bahrain to the final sprint in Abu Dhabi.