The 2027 Formula One schedule has been released, and once again the championship will feature a record‑tying 24 race weekends. While the sheer number of events is impressive, the real points of interest lie in several key adjustments: a boost in the number of Sprint weekends, the surprising addition of Monaco to the Sprint roster, the continued presence of the Middle‑East races, and the comeback of two fan‑favorite circuits.
In July, Formula 1 confirmed that the 2027 season will host ten Sprint events, up from the six that have been run in each of the last four years. This marks an increase of four Sprint weekends, bringing the total to a third of the calendar. The Sprint format, first trialled in 2021, adds a short 100‑kilometre race on Saturday that determines the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. It also includes a separate qualifying session on Friday to set the starting order for the Sprint itself.
The format has proven popular, with television audiences on Sprint weekends averaging about 12 percent higher than on traditional three‑practice‑day weekends. The ten venues for 2027 are split evenly between tracks that have already hosted Sprints—Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos and Qatar’s Lusail—and newcomers to the concept: Sakhir (Bahrain), Albert Park (Melbourne), Suzuka, Monaco and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.
The points system for the Sprint, which currently awards points to the top eight finishers, is expected to remain unchanged. One of the most talked‑about changes is the inclusion of Monaco as a Sprint venue. Historically, the Principality has never run a Sprint, and its main Grand Prix—78 laps around a tight, twisty street circuit—has rarely produced overtaking opportunities, often resulting in a processional race when conditions are dry.
The excitement in Monaco traditionally comes from the high‑stakes qualifying session, where drivers must thread their cars through a maze of barriers at full speed. By adding a Sprint, Monaco will now feature two grid‑setting sessions in a single weekend, amplifying the drama. Critics have pointed out that Sprint races are usually held at circuits where overtaking is easier, which is not the case in Monaco. Sky Sports analyst Craig Slater noted, "Traditionally Sprints have been held at tracks where it is easy to overtake.
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." The reduction to a single practice session—rather than the usual three—could also introduce more unpredictability, as drivers will have less time to find rhythm and confidence on the demanding street layout. For the first time, the 2027 season will both start and finish with Sprint events.
Bahrain will open the year with a Sprint weekend from 12‑14 March, while Abu Dhabi will close the campaign on 10‑12 December. The season‑opening Sprint presents a unique challenge: teams will have only one practice session before the Friday Sprint Qualifying, meaning they must quickly adapt to the new 2027 car specifications. However, pre‑season testing at the same Sakhir circuit is scheduled for four days (24‑27 February), giving crews an extra day of data compared with the usual three‑day test periods that are typically reserved for years with major regulation changes.
The double‑Sprint finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi raises the possibility that the World Championship could be decided on a Saturday, as happened in Qatar 2023 when Max Verstappen secured his third title during the Sprint. With all four Middle‑East races—Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi—still on the 2027 calendar, the season will be bookended by these events, mirroring the 2026 schedule. Geopolitical tensions have already impacted the current season: the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled, and the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved to Malaysia for October 4 after originally being slated for early April at Sakhir.
Despite these disruptions, Formula 1 officials intend to keep the 2026 concluding rounds in the Middle East as planned, with a final decision expected by mid‑September but no hard deadline imposed. Should the Middle‑East races become untenable, the Imola circuit in Italy is earmarked as a contingency venue for a December finish. The 2027 calendar also brings back two popular tracks that have been absent since the pandemic‑affected 2020‑2021 seasons. Portugal’s Portimão circuit will replace the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, taking its June slot, while Turkey will rejoin the schedule in early October, following a brief rotation that sees the Dutch Grand Prix step aside.
These returns add variety without introducing any completely new venues. Overall, the 2027 Formula 1 season promises a blend of continuity and innovation.
The expanded Sprint program, the historic inclusion of Monaco as a Sprint host, and the strategic placement of races across Europe, the Middle East and Asia aim to keep fans engaged throughout a packed 24‑race calendar. With higher television ratings expected for Sprint weekends and the potential for championship drama on both opening and closing Saturdays, the upcoming year looks set to deliver plenty of excitement for teams, drivers, and spectators alike.