F1 2027 Calendar: Monaco Joins 10 Sprints — SkimNews
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- Formula 1 confirmed its 2027 calendar at a record-equalling 24 race weekends, with Sprints rising from six to ten — four more than in each of the past four seasons — and F1 citing 12% higher global TV audiences on Sprint weekends
- Monaco will host its first-ever Sprint in 2027 despite the Principality's narrow, twisty circuit rarely producing overtaking, with F1 noting the addition gives fans two qualifying sessions and Sky Sports' Craig Slater calling that "the big bonus"
- The 10 Sprint hosts split evenly between repeat venues (Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Interlagos, Lusail) and newcomers (Sakhir, Albert Park, Suzuka, Monaco, Yas Marina), with the current points-for-top-eight format thought to remain unchanged
- Bahrain (March 12-14) will open and Abu Dhabi (December 10-12) close the season as Sprints for the first time, raising the possibility of a title-deciding Saturday race as happened at Qatar 2023 when Max Verstappen clinched his third world championship
- Portugal's Portimao and Turkey return to the calendar for the first time since their Covid-era 2020-21 stints, replacing Barcelona (entering a rotation with Belgium, back in 2028) and the Dutch GP whose deal has ended
- Pre-season testing at Sakhir runs four days rather than the usual three, giving teams extra track familiarity with the new 2027 cars before the season-opening Sprint weekend
- All four Middle Eastern rounds remain on the 2027 schedule, though F1 has yet to confirm whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned for 2026 — Imola is understood to be the December contingency if they cannot
Why it matters: F1 is expanding Sprints from six to ten in 2027, citing 12% higher global TV audiences on Sprint weekends, with Monaco now included despite its overtaking limitations. For the first time the season will both open (Bahrain, March 12-14) and close (Abu Dhabi, December 10-12) with a Sprint, following the precedent set when Verstappen clinched his 2023 title in Qatar's Saturday race.
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