Formula 1 has confirmed an expanded sprint race calendar for the 2027 World Championship, with the number of sprint events increasing from six to 10. This marks a significant boost for the format, which features a shorter race on Saturday and an additional qualifying session on Friday.
New venues set to host sprint races for the first time include Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco, and Abu Dhabi. These join existing sprint locations such as Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil, and Qatar. The inclusion of Monaco, a circuit known for its limited overtaking opportunities, is expected to generate interest, with F1 highlighting the prospect of two qualifying sessions at the demanding track.
The 2027 season is scheduled to commence in Bahrain on 12-14 March, though the start of the season and other Middle East races remain subject to ongoing regional conflict. The British Grand Prix is slated for 2-4 July, and the calendar also sees the return of Portugal and Turkey, which previously served as placeholder events during the pandemic.
F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali expressed excitement about the expansion, 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."