Monaco gets the short format
Formula 1 published its 2027 calendar on Thursday. Twenty-four Grands Prix, five continents and, most notably, 10 sprint races. The short format had never gone beyond six weekends since it was introduced in 2021. It will now account for more than 40% of the season.
The real shock is Monaco. The principality will host its first sprint on June 6, even though it is widely regarded as the least suitable track in the whole field for overtaking. Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Abu Dhabi will also get the format for the first time. Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Sao Paulo and Qatar all have it back.
Melbourne is handed another change. Albert Park had opened the last two seasons. It will now slide to round three on April 4, with a sprint there for the first time in its history.
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Portimao returns, Barcelona and Zandvoort drop out
Two circuits are back or new on the bill. Portugal returns to the championship with a Grand Prix at Portimao on June 20. Turkey also comes back on October 3 for the first time since 2021.
The missing names are every bit as significant. Zandvoort is gone, with the Netherlands not pushing to extend beyond 2026. Barcelona also drops off the grid after hosting the Spanish Grand Prix from 1991 to 2025. The Catalan circuit is due back in 2028 as part of a rotation deal with Belgium. In the meantime, it remains the leading pre-season testing option and could still be used as a backup venue.
“We are delighted to welcome Portugal and Turkiye and to expand the sprint format to 10 events,” said Stefano Domenicali. The F1 chief also thanked the volunteers and stewards, “whose work makes every Grand Prix possible.”
Four races under a cloud
The calendar is not set in stone. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which open the season on March 14 and 21, are marked with an asterisk. The same goes for Qatar and Abu Dhabi in December. The situation in the Middle East remains uncertain and the FIA has not made a final call.
There is nothing abstract about that backdrop. The current 2026 season has already seen the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Sepang and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cancelled outright. If a European fallback plan kicks in before December, the present campaign will end up with 22 races rather than the 24 scheduled.
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