F1 expands sprint programme to 10 races as Portugal and Turkey return in 2027 calendar
Formula One on 16 September 2026 unveiled its 2027 calendar, raising the number of sprint races from six to 10 and reinstating events in Portugal and Turkey. The planned season comprises 24 races and is scheduled to begin in Bahrain.
The governing body confirmed the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will run on the weekend of 2-4 July. Organisers said all four races in the Middle East are slated to occupy their usual calendar slots, and, as things stand, this season’s calendar remains unchanged with Qatar and Abu Dhabi still expected to conclude this year’s championship.
F1 described sprint events as successful and popular with fans and has increased their frequency for 2027 from six to 10. New sprint hosts for the short-format races will include Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco and Abu Dhabi, while the sprint format will return to Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, São Paulo and Lusail.
Portugal’s round at Portimão is scheduled for 20 June; the circuit last staged an F1 race during the Covid pandemic in 2021. Turkey’s Istanbul venue is set to reappear on 3 October; it also last hosted a race in 2021 and previously held regular events between 2005 and 2011.
Barcelona will not be included as planned because it is due to rotate with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was held for the last time this year. The calendar contains three triple-header sequences: Australia, Japan and China in April; Azerbaijan, Turkey and Singapore in September–October; and the United States, Mexico and Brazil in October–November.
Las Vegas will not run back-to-back with Qatar and Abu Dhabi for the first time since joining the calendar, creating a one-week gap after the Nevada meeting. F1 has not outlined formal contingency arrangements for alternatives to Middle East races but it is understood the sport has been considering options if required; for this season, while the sport’s position is to continue as planned in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Imola is expected to be employed to host the season finale in December if they are cancelled.
The 2027 season is due to open in Bahrain on 14 March and close in Abu Dhabi on 12 December. F1’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, said: “Formula One continues to go from strength-to-strength, attracting new audiences around the globe,” he said. “Week after week, the world’s greatest drivers will battle on some of the most challenging tracks in motor sport, supported by F1’s outstanding teams, world-class manufacturers, and global partners. Together, they create a spectacle unlike anything else in sport.”