The 2027 Formula One schedule has been released, and once again the championship will stretch to a record‑tying 24 race weekends. While the sheer number of events is headline‑worthy, the calendar also introduces several notable twists that will shape the next season. Among the most talked‑about changes are the expansion of Sprint events, the surprising addition of Monaco to the Sprint roster, the continued presence of the Middle Eastern races, and the revival of two fan‑favorite circuits.
In July, Formula 1 confirmed that the number of Sprint weekends will rise to ten for 2027, up from the six that have been run in each of the previous four seasons. This means four extra events will feature the alternative format that debuted in 2021. A Sprint weekend consists of a Friday practice session, a Saturday Sprint Qualifying session that sets the grid for a short 100 km race, and the traditional Sunday Grand Prix qualifying and race. The format has proven popular, boosting global TV viewership by roughly 12 % compared with standard weekends that include three practice sessions.
The ten Sprint venues are split evenly between tracks that have already hosted Sprints—Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos and Qatar’s Lusail—and newcomers to the format: Sakhir (Bahrain), Albert Park (Australia), Suzuka (Japan), Monaco and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. The points system, which awards the top eight finishers in the Sprint, is expected to stay unchanged for the upcoming season. Monaco’s inclusion has generated the most debate. The principality has never run a Sprint, and its classic 78‑lap Grand Prix is notorious for being a processional affair, with overtaking extremely limited on the narrow, winding streets lined by barriers.
Historically, the excitement in Monaco comes from the qualifying session, where drivers must thread their cars through a maze of walls at breakneck speed. Adding a Sprint means there will now be two grid‑setting sessions in a single weekend, effectively doubling the moments when drivers can showcase their precision and bravery.
Critics argue that Sprint races thrive on circuits where overtaking is easier, a condition Monaco does not meet. Sky Sports analyst Craig Slater summed up the sentiment: "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." Moreover, the reduction from three practice sessions to just one on Sprint weekends could inject additional unpredictability, as teams will have limited time to dial in car setups and drivers will have less opportunity to build rhythm on the demanding circuit. The 2027 season will also be unique in that it both opens and closes with Sprint events.
Bahrain will host the first Sprint weekend of the year from March 12‑14, while Abu Dhabi will conclude the campaign with a Sprint on December 10‑12. The opening Sprint presents a fresh challenge: teams will have only a single practice session before tackling Sprint Qualifying on Friday evening, meaning any lack of familiarity with the new 2027 car specifications could have immediate consequences. To mitigate this, pre‑season testing at the same Sakhir circuit is slated for February 24‑27 and will run for four days instead of the usual three, providing extra track time ahead of the first competitive session. Closing the season with back‑to‑back Sprint weekends in Qatar and Abu Dhabi adds another strategic layer.
If the championship battle remains tight, the title could be decided on a Saturday Sprint rather than the traditional Sunday race, echoing Max Verstappen’s 2023 world‑title clinch in the Qatar Sprint. The four Middle Eastern rounds—Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi—continue to bookend the 24‑race schedule, mirroring the 2026 plan. Geopolitical tensions have already impacted the calendar: this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled, and the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved to Malaysia for October 4 after originally being slated for April at Sakhir. Nevertheless, Formula 1 officials intend to keep the 2026 and 2027 Middle Eastern rounds on the books, with final decisions expected later in September.
Should the situation deteriorate, Italy’s Imola circuit has been earmarked as a contingency venue to finish the season in December. Beyond the Sprint changes, the 2027 calendar sees the return of two popular venues that have been absent since the pandemic‑affected 2020‑2021 seasons.
Portugal’s Portimão circuit will replace the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, taking over its June slot, while the Turkish Grand Prix makes a comeback in early October as part of a slightly reshuffled post‑summer‑break schedule. Both circuits were previously used to fill gaps caused by COVID‑related cancellations, and their reintroduction adds variety to the European leg of the championship. Barcelona itself will rotate out, entering a three‑year cycle with the Belgian Grand Prix and slated to return in 2028. The Dutch Grand Prix, whose contract has ended, also exits the calendar.
As a result, the 2027 season will feature no completely new venues, but the mix of returning tracks and the expanded Sprint format promises fresh storylines. The season will wrap up on December 12, a week later than the current year and matching the latest finish date seen since 2020. Notably, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on a Saturday as part of a triple‑header from September 24‑26, illustrating the flexibility of weekend scheduling that the sport is increasingly adopting.
Overall, the 2027 Formula 1 calendar blends continuity with innovation. The increase to ten Sprint weekends, the historic inclusion of Monaco, the strategic positioning of Middle Eastern races, and the revival of beloved circuits like Portimão and Istanbul Park all aim to keep the championship dynamic, unpredictable, and appealing to a global audience.