Here’s why the 2027 F1 calendar will feature 10 Sprint races

The 2027 Formula 1 calendar is officially out, and alongside the headline venues it brings a significant structural change: the championship is expanding its Sprint weekends to ten — the highest number since the format's introduction in 2021. Here is everything you need to know.

Why the big increase?

The growth trajectory has been steady. The championship ran three Sprints in both 2021 and 2022, rising to six per season between 2023 and 2026 before jumping to the ten planned for next year. The appetite is clear: 82% of attendees at Sprint weekends say it adds value to their ticket, with competitive sessions spread across three days rather than two on a traditional weekend, while 75% of F1 fans believe Sprint events add greater value to a season's calendar.

Five venues break their Sprint duck

Bahrain — which hosts the season opener — plus Australia, Japan, Monaco and the season finale in Abu Dhabi will all host a Sprint for the very first time. Yes, Monaco is getting one. One of the most exhilarating sessions to watch in Formula 1 is Qualifying in the Principality, as drivers thread the tight, twisty streets of Monte Carlo. Now fans get not one but two of those spectacular sessions: Sprint Qualifying on Friday, the Sprint on Saturday morning (replacing FP3), before Grand Prix Qualifying later on Saturday.

The remainder of the list is familiar. Canada returns for a second successive year, having delivered a sensational Mercedes battle for the lead between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Silverstone gets its third Sprint, Monza its second, and Brazil extends its record of hosting the most Sprints with a sixth edition at Interlagos. Qatar is back with a fourth in five years, at the Lusail circuit.

With Abu Dhabi also on the list, the season concludes with back-to-back Sprints, adding more points to the final two Grands Prix weekends. At the other end, Bahrain, Australia and Japan mean the campaign begins with three Sprints in the first four race weekends — rewarding teams that are fast straight out of the box.

For more detail on the expanded calendar and the wider 24-race programme, our full announcement coverage is worth a read.

How the Sprint format works

As the name suggests, it is a short race. It runs over 100km — around one-third of a typical Grand Prix distance — and lasts roughly 30 minutes. There are no mandatory pit stops, and while stops are not banned, the window is so tight it rarely pays to box for fresh rubber. Points go to the top eight, with eight for the winner down to one for P8.

A Sprint weekend trims practice from three one-hour sessions to a single 60-minute run. Sprint Qualifying is a shortened version of the main event: SQ1 runs for 12 minutes, SQ2 for ten and SQ3 for just eight. The result? More competitive sessions across a season — and a 2027 campaign that promises to deliver exactly that.