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F1 2027 calendar: 10 sprint races, Monaco debut, Portugal and Turkey return
Formula 1 announced its 2027 calendar with 24 races and a record 10 sprint weekends, nearly double the current six. Monaco hosts a sprint for the first time, while Portugal and Turkey return after pandemic absences. The season begins in Bahrain on March 12–14, with contingency plans in place due to Middle East regional tensions.
Quick Facts
- F1 2027 calendar officially announced
- Sprint race weekends increased from 6 to 10
- Monaco hosts a sprint race for the first time
- Portugal and Turkey return to the calendar
- Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and Barcelona exit the schedule
Formula 1 has officially confirmed its 2027 World Championship calendar, featuring 24 races across five continents with a record-high 10 sprint weekends—up from six in recent seasons. The season opens in Bahrain on March 12–14 with pre-season testing scheduled for February 24–27 at the same circuit. The calendar marks the return of Portugal's Portimão circuit and Turkey's Istanbul Park, venues absent since the pandemic, while the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and Barcelona exit the schedule. Barcelona will rotate back in even-numbered years from 2028, alternating annually with Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps.
The sprint format—featuring one practice session, sprint qualifying, a short-form race on Saturday, and standard qualifying and grand prix on Sunday—will be held for the first time at Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco, and Abu Dhabi, alongside established venues Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil, and Qatar. Monaco's inclusion as a sprint host has drawn particular attention; F1 justifies the decision by highlighting that two qualifying sessions will now occur at the street circuit, potentially generating different grid orders and offering unpredictability despite the track's historically limited overtaking. The format starts and ends the season with sprints—Bahrain in March and Abu Dhabi in December.
F1 leadership cited viewership and attendance gains to support the expansion. Data presented indicates sprint weekend viewership is 12 percent higher than non-sprint weekends, with sprint qualifying attracting up to three times more engagement than free practice. Eighty-two percent of sprint-weekend attendees and 75 percent of F1 fans surveyed report that sprints add value to tickets and the calendar respectively. F1 president Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized the calendar's balance of tradition, innovation, and global appeal.
The calendar remains subject to Middle East contingencies. Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on March 19–21 are confirmed as planned, but F1 is maintaining contingency options should ongoing regional conflict prevent those races. Should the Middle East schedule become untenable, F1 intends to advance Australia, China, and Japan to fill the season-opening slot, with Australia potentially able to move from April to March pending completion of new paddock infrastructure. Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain scheduled as season-closing races in December, with Imola held as a backup option if 2026 season-end races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot proceed.
Why This Matters
F1's expansion to 10 sprint weekends directly affects global broadcast rights revenue, team budgets (estimated $2–4M additional preparation cost per team), venue infrastructure capacity, and driver physical demand over a 24-race season. Monaco's first sprint introduces technical and safety variables on a narrow street circuit; Portugal and Turkey's return reshapes European logistics and sponsorship opportunities. Middle East contingency clauses signal that geopolitical stability remains a material calendar risk: if Bahrain or Saudi Arabia races are cancelled, Australia, China, and Japan could front-load the season, affecting pre-season testing timelines, crew schedules, and broadcaster commitments in Asia-Pacific markets.
Timeline & Sources
Feb 24, 2026
WirePre-season testing begins in Bahrain
Feb 27, 2026
WirePre-season testing concludes in Bahrain
Oct 1, 2027
WireTurkey returns to calendar with race in Istanbul
Dec 10, 2027
WireSeason concludes with sprint race in Abu Dhabi
Related Signals
Sources
- Formula 1 2027: Calendar to have 10 sprint races next year, including MonacoBBCMediaSep 16, 2026
- Formula 1 2027: Calendar to have 10 sprint races next year, including MonacoBBCMediaSep 16, 2026
- F1 2027 calendar announced with Bahrain to host season-opener and increase in Sprint weekends in 24-race scheduleSky SportsMediaSep 16, 2026
- Monaco sprint and season opener Plan B - F1's 2027 calendarThe RaceMediaSep 16, 2026
- F1 2027 calendar: Monaco GP gets sprint race, Türkiye and Portugal return to scheduleESPNMediaSep 16, 2026
- La F1 svela il calendario 2027: novità Sprint a Monaco, riecco Portogallo e Turchia. Tutte le dateLa Gazzetta dello SportMediaSep 16, 2026
- Formula 1, ecco il calendario 2027: Sprint a Monza e Monaco, tornano Portogallo e TurchiaSportmediasetMediaSep 16, 2026
- F1, il calendario del Mondiale 2027. Aumentano le Sprint: c'è anche Monte-CarloSky SportMediaSep 16, 2026
- F1 2027 calendar: Monaco staging one of 10 Sprints and other talking points from race schedule reveal for next seasonSky SportsMediaSep 17, 2026
- Sacrilege? Our verdict on 2027 F1 calendar + sprint expansionThe RaceMediaSep 16, 2026