The 2027 Formula 1 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 impressive, the new calendar also brings several noteworthy developments that will reshape the way the season unfolds.
Among the most significant changes are the expansion of Sprint weekends, the historic addition of a Sprint race at Monaco, the continued presence of the sport’s Middle Eastern venues, and the return of two beloved circuits after a multi‑year absence. ### An Expanded Sprint Programme In July, Formula 1 confirmed that the number of Sprint events for 2027 will rise to ten, up from the six that have been held each year since the format’s debut in 2021. The Sprint weekend is a condensed format that adds a separate qualifying session on Friday to set the grid for a short 100‑kilometre race on Saturday. The results of that race award points to the top eight finishers and determine the starting order for the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
This structure has already proven popular with fans; viewership on Sprint weekends is roughly 12 percent higher than on traditional weekends that feature three practice sessions. The ten Sprint venues are split evenly between locations that have already hosted the format—Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos and Qatar’s Lusail circuit—and five newcomers: Sakhir (Bahrain), Albert Park (Melbourne), Suzuka, the iconic streets of Monaco and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina.
The points system for the Sprint, which rewards the eight fastest drivers, is expected to remain unchanged for the upcoming season. ### Monaco Joins the Sprint Roster Perhaps the most surprising headline from the new calendar is that Monaco, a circuit that has never featured a Sprint, will be one of the ten Sprint venues in 2027. The Principality’s 78‑lap Grand Prix is notorious for its narrow, twisty layout and limited overtaking opportunities, often resulting in a processional race when conditions are dry. Historically, the excitement in Monaco has stemmed from the sheer precision required to navigate the tight barriers during qualifying, where drivers push their cars to the absolute limit.
By adding a Sprint, Monaco will now host two grid‑setting sessions in a single weekend: the traditional qualifying on Saturday and the Sprint qualifying on Friday. This dual‑qualifying format could inject fresh unpredictability into a race that usually sees the pole‑sitter dominate.
Moreover, the reduction to a single practice session—rather than the usual three—means drivers will have less time to find rhythm and confidence on the unforgiving streets, potentially reshuffling the pecking order before the main race. Sky Sports analyst Craig Slater summed up the sentiment: "Traditionally Sprints have been held at tracks where overtaking is easier.
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 the track is all about, and the drivers will face the ultimate test twice in one weekend." ### Season Bookends with Sprint Events For the first time, the 2027 season will both begin and conclude with Sprint weekends.
The opening round in Bahrain will run from March 12‑14, featuring a Friday Sprint qualifying, a Saturday Sprint race, and a Sunday Grand Prix. The finale in Abu Dhabi will follow the same structure from December 10‑12.
This arrangement adds a new strategic layer to the championship, as teams will need to be ready to deliver strong performances right out of the gate with only a single practice session to fine‑tune the new 2027 cars. Pre‑season testing at the same Sakhir circuit is scheduled for February 24‑27 and will be extended to four days—one more than the usual three—giving teams extra track time ahead of the opening Sprint. Nonetheless, the compressed weekend format could still produce early‑season surprises, especially if teams struggle to optimise car set‑ups in limited practice. ### Implications for the Title Fight The back‑to‑back Sprint events at Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the season’s end raise the possibility that the World Championship could be decided on a Saturday, rather than the traditional Sunday Grand Prix.
This scenario is not purely hypothetical; Max Verstappen clinched his third title in the Sprint race at Qatar in 2023. With four Middle Eastern rounds anchoring the calendar—Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi—the region will effectively frame the 24‑race campaign. Geopolitical tensions have already impacted the schedule.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled this year, and the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved to Malaysia for October 4 after being originally slated for April at its home circuit in Sakhir. Despite these disruptions, F1 officials intend to keep the 2026 concluding Middle Eastern rounds on the books, with a contingency plan to shift the finale to Imola in Italy should the Middle Eastern events become untenable. ### Returning Classics and Calendar Adjustments While the 2027 calendar introduces no brand‑new venues, it does see the return of two popular tracks that have been absent since the pandemic‑affected 2020‑2021 seasons: Portugal’s Portimão circuit and Turkey’s Istanbul Park. Both circuits replace the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, which will rotate with the Belgian Grand Prix and return in 2028, and the Dutch Grand Prix, whose contract has ended.
Portimão will take over Barcelona’s June slot, offering a scenic, undulating layout that rewards driver skill, while Istanbul Park returns in early October as part of a slightly reshuffled post‑summer break schedule. The 2027 season will also feature a five‑week summer hiatus, the longest in recent memory, giving teams a valuable window for development work.
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. Fans can look forward to a Saturday Grand Prix at the Azerbaijan round, part of a triple‑header from September 24‑26, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1 and streaming via NOW. In summary, the 2027 Formula 1 calendar promises a blend of familiar excitement and fresh challenges. The increased number of Sprint weekends, highlighted by Monaco’s historic inclusion, will test teams’ adaptability and could produce unexpected shifts in the championship hierarchy.
Meanwhile, the continued focus on the Middle Eastern races and the revival of classic European venues ensure a diverse and globally appealing season for fans and competitors alike.