Formula 1 and the FIA have unveiled the 2027 season calendar, confirming 24 Grands Prix across 22 countries and a significant expansion of the Sprint format — from six to 10 events. The announcement marks one of the most ambitious structural changes to the championship calendar in recent years.

New Sprint Venues and Returning Hosts

Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco, and Abu Dhabi will host Sprint events for the first time. Monaco's inclusion is particularly notable, with two qualifying sessions planned on the iconic narrow streets of Monte Carlo, offering drivers a rare chance to demonstrate precision at the sport's most demanding street circuit.

Sprint weekends will also return to Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Sao Paulo, and Lusail, building on formats already proven to draw large audiences at those venues.

The Case for More Sprint Racing

Formula 1 cited its own viewership data to justify the expansion. According to the sport's figures, total viewership on Sprint weekends is 12 per cent higher than on standard race weekends. Sprint qualifying is reportedly up to three times more popular with fans than free practice sessions. Additionally, 82 per cent of Sprint weekend attendees say the format adds value to their ticket, while 75 per cent of F1 fans believe Sprint events enrich the season calendar overall.

The Sprint format was first introduced in 2021 and has been expanded incrementally since, reflecting growing confidence from both the commercial rights holder and the FIA in its audience appeal.

Full Season Structure

Pre-season testing will be held in Bahrain from 24–27 February, ahead of the Championship opener at the same venue from 12–14 March. Saudi Arabia follows before the calendar heads to Australia, Japan, and China, then Miami and Canada.

The European leg includes Formula 1's return to Portugal in June — after Monaco — marking a welcome comeback for the Algarve International Circuit. Türkiye also rejoins the calendar in October, slotted between Azerbaijan and Singapore.

The season closes with rounds in Austin, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and Las Vegas, before the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

What the Organisers Said

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: 'The 2027 calendar brings together some of the most iconic circuits and vibrant cities in the world, creating an incredible stage for another unforgettable season of Formula 1. We are thrilled to welcome Portugal and Türkiye to the championship and to expand Sprint racing to ten events, giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action.'

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, stated: 'With 24 Grands Prix across five continents, the return of Portugal and Turkiye, and the opportunity for an expanded Sprint programme, the calendar combines tradition, innovation, and fan engagement while maintaining the highest sporting standards.'

What This Means for Fans and Teams

The expanded Sprint calendar will place additional physical and logistical demands on teams, with more compressed race weekends across a 24-race schedule. Fan groups have broadly welcomed the change, though some traditionalists argue that the Sprint format dilutes the singular drama of a Sunday Grand Prix. Notably, the return of both Portugal and Türkiye — both of which had been absent from recent calendars — signals Formula 1's continued push to diversify its geographic footprint beyond the Gulf and the Americas.

With the 2027 season also coinciding with the introduction of new technical regulations, the calendar expansion sets the stage for what could be one of the most-watched F1 seasons in the sport's history.