F1 Unveils 2027 Calendar With Monaco Set for First-Ever Sprint Race

A 24-RACE SEASON, BAHRAIN TO ABU DHABI

Formula 1 has published its calendar for the 2027 season, confirming 24 races that open in Bahrain on March 14 and close with a double-header in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in December. Bahrain returns to its traditional season-opening slot as part of a double-header with Saudi Arabia, before the series heads to Melbourne for round three. After stops in Japan and China, the calendar moves to Miami and then Montreal, with Canada's race deliberately scheduled for May 23 so it no longer clashes with the Indianapolis 500.

MONACO GETS A SPRINT FOR THE FIRST TIME

The headline change arrives when the series reaches Europe. The Monaco Grand Prix, set for June 6, will host a sprint race for the first time in the event's history, a decision that immediately drew skepticism given the street circuit's tight, twisting layout has long made overtaking there close to impossible. F1 is reportedly planning to lean into the format by running two separate qualifying sessions, one on Friday and one on Saturday, to keep the weekend's marquee qualifying spectacle intact even with a sprint added to the schedule.

Monaco is one of ten rounds carrying a sprint in 2027, up from six this year. Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Abu Dhabi are getting a sprint for the first time, while the format returns to Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil and Qatar.

"Due to the continued success and strong demand for the format, the number of Sprint events has increased from six to ten for 2027, delivering even more competitive action across the season for fans, promoters, broadcasters, and partners," F1 said in a statement, citing figures that Sprint weekends draw 12 percent higher viewership than standard race weekends.

PORTUGAL AND TURKEY RETURN

Beyond the sprint expansion, the calendar brings back two circuits with real history. Portugal returns for the first time since 2021 with a race at the Algarve circuit in Portimao on June 20, and Turkey is back on the schedule with a race at Istanbul Park on October 3, slotted into a triple-header alongside Baku and Singapore, though that date remains subject to FIA circuit homologation. The season's other long-haul stretch pairs Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo before Las Vegas stands alone on November 20 and the season wraps with sprint doubleheaders in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

"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," F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali said. "We are thrilled to welcome Portugal and Turkiye to the championship and to expand Sprint racing to ten events, giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action that make our sport so special."

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed that framing, calling the 24-round, five-continent schedule a reflection of the sport's growth while stressing it maintains "the highest sporting standards."

NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED

The Monaco sprint decision has already split opinion among fans and commentators, with critics arguing a sprint format rewards low-risk, cautious driving on a track where a single mistake can end a race, meaning a shortened Saturday session before the real point-scoring Sunday race could produce even less action than Monaco's grands prix already do. Supporters of the move point to F1's own data showing higher engagement around sprint weekends generally, even if Monaco's unique layout makes it an unusual test case for the format.

WHAT'S NEXT

The 2027 season is still well over a year away, giving teams and promoters time to work out logistics, including how Monaco physically accommodates an extra full day of competitive running. Closer to home, F1 has said the final rounds of the current 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on schedule for now, though preparations are reportedly under way in Imola as a contingency finale host given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region.