Why Monaco’s hosting a Sprint – F1 2027 calendar talking points

Formula 1’s 2027 calendar is out with next season again scheduled to run to a record-equalling 24 race weekends.

But the schedule features a number of points of intrigue including an increase in Sprints, headlined by the addition of Monaco, the continued presence of the sport’s usual Middle Eastern rounds, and the return of two popular tracks…

Four more Sprints

As reported in July, Formula 1 is increasing the number of Sprint weekends on the calendar for 2027.

The final number of Sprints has been confirmed as 10, four more than the six which have featured in each of the past four seasons.

The alternative format, which was first introduced in 2021 and features an additional qualifying session to set the grid for a short-form 100km race, has led to increase in global television audiences, which F1 says are 12 per cent higher than on non-Sprint weekends which feature three practice sessions.

The 10 venues for 2027 are split evenly between tracks that have staged Sprints previously – Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos and Qatar’s Lusail – and newcomers to the format in Sakhir, Albert Park, Suzuka, Monaco and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.

The current Sprint format, which features points for the top-eight finishers, is thought set to remain the same for 2027.

Why Monaco is staging a first-ever Sprint

Certainly, many of the early headlines and debate around the 2027 calendar has centred on the fact Monaco has unexpectedly been included as one the 10 Sprint venues.

Not only has the Principality never hosted a Sprint before, its main 78-lap Grand Prix is already not known for overtaking around its narrow, twisty wall-lined circuit with the race often proving processional in dry conditions.

It is regularly Qualifying – and the flat-out challenge of threading an F1 car between the barriers – that proves the most jaw-dropping aspect of the Monaco weekend. F1 has pointed out that the addition of the Sprint means there will now be two such grid-setting sessions in 2027

It can also be argued that having only one practice session, rather than the usual three, offers the chance for more unpredictability in the pecking order given drivers will only have one practice session to build rhythm and confidence, a crucial element of a successful Monaco weekend.

“Traditionally Sprints have been held at tracks where it is easy to overtake. Clearly that’s not the case at Monaco,” said Sky Sports’ Craig Slater.

“But the big bonus here we’ll have two red-hot qualifying sessions. That’s what that track is all about and the drivers will have the ultimate test on two occasions that weekend.”

Season start and ending Sprint weekends

For the first time next year, the season will both start and finish with a Sprint event.

Bahrain opens the season with the format on March 12-14 while Abu Dhabi will close it on December 10-12.

The season-opening Sprint will certainly present a different challenge for teams and drivers given they will have just one practice session that weekend to prepare for the campaign’s first competitive session, Sprint Qualifying, on the Friday evening.

However, pre-season testing at the same Sakhir circuit (February 24-27) will run to four rather than three days – one more day than is usually the case outside of years featuring big rule changes – meaning they will at least be familiar with the track with the new 2027 cars.

Still, the season-opening Sprint represents a new challenge and could offer some early-season surprises in the pecking order for one, or both, grids if teams are not on top of their cars and set-ups.

The fact that the season will finish with back-to-back Sprint events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi inevitably raises the possibility of the world title being decided in a Saturday race should the fight go down to the final rounds.

There is already precedent for this from Qatar 2023 when Max Verstappen clinched his third world title in the Sprint.

Middle East races scheduled as F1 waits on final 2026 decisions

The sport’s four Middle Eastern races all feature on the 2027 season, bookending the 24-race campaign.

That also remains the case for 2026’s final two scheduled races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi with just over two months to go until the sport is due to head there.

The conflict in the Middle East has already seen this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cancelled and the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia on October 4, having originally been scheduled for April at its own Sakhir track a week before Jeddah.

F1’s intention and planning remains for 2026’s concluding two rounds to go ahead as scheduled. Although Stefano Domenicali had previously indicated that there was a mid-September timeframe on making a final decision on whether the events could take place, there is thought to be no hard deadline as such with officials able to wait for longer before making a final call.

Italy’s Imola circuit is understood to be the contingency to close the current season in December should the Middle Eastern rounds not be able to take place.

The early-season 2027 dates in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are not scheduled for another five months, giving F1 and the FIA plenty of time to continue monitoring the latest situation.

Portugal and Turkey return

Formula 1’s calendar first increased to a record 24 grands prix in 2024 and that number is again scheduled for next year.

Next year’s calendar features no absolutely-new venues, but the sport will return to Portugal and Turkey for the first time since the popular European venues were called up to help out during the Covid-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons.

They replace the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which starts a rotation with the Belgian GP and next returns in 2028, and Dutch Grand Prix, whose deal has ended.

Portugal’s Portimao circuit takes over Barcelona’s June slot, while Turkey returns at the start of October as part of a slightly rejigged run of races after F1’s summer break, which will stretch to five weeks in 2027.

The season will finish on December 12, one week later than this year and the latest since 2020.

Racing on a Saturday! The F1 season continues live on Sky Sports F1 as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header of races from September 24-26, with the Baku race taking place on a Saturday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime