Full Breakdown
Formula 1 Expands Sprint Calendar for 2027 While Targeting Return of Cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026
7/7/2026, 9:25:13 PM
More Sprint Weekends for 2027
Stefano Domenicali, president of Formula 1, said the 2027 season will add Sprint weekends beyond six. Insiders expect nine or ten events, though count not final. Calendar will be released “very soon,” with Domenicali urging sport to stay “brave” and “think out of the box.”
Sprint Format and 2026 Calendar Setbacks
The Sprint weekend, introduced in 2021, includes a 100 km Sprint that sets the Sunday grid. It marked its anniversary at Silverstone, where six Sprint events have been held. In 2026, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled due to conflict, leaving a schedule gap.
Numbers at a Glance
Six Sprint weekends were scheduled for 2023-2026. Friday practice at Silverstone attracted about 150,000 spectators. 2026 lists 22 rounds; reinstating Bahrain would raise it to 23 or 24. Bahrain is slated for 2–4 October, between Azerbaijan and Singapore. Qatar (27-29 Nov) and Abu Dhabi (4-6 Dec) remain on the end-season calendar.
Official Statements & Responses
Domenicali said Formula 1 must “make sure we are ready to run our calendar,” adding that a decision on Bahrain race must be taken before summer break after Hungarian Grand Prix on 26 July. He called Middle-East race a “positive message for sport and politics.” No statements from the FIA were released, only confirming monitoring.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the 2027 Sprint count, citing “nine or ten” without confirmation. Bahrain is seen as the likely race to return, but no official decision has been announced, leaving the 2026 calendar uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you remember in the beginning, people were always sceptical of what we're doing, and I think that we have the duty to be, in a way, brave and to think out of the box,” — Stefano Domenicali, President, Formula 1
- “I think you see the effect. With the [150,000] people we had on Friday at Silverstone, if you don't give something that has an action it would be wrong.” — Stefano Domenicali, President, Formula 1
- “If there is something that we can announce also related to the possibility of seeing if there is any space for what has not been done so far, we're going to do it, in the right moment and the right conditions.” — Stefano Domenicali, President, Formula 1
- “And we are monitoring the situation because it would be an incredibly positive message for sport, and also politically, that we are moving in this direction, because if this is happening, it is something we can say is behind us.” — Stefano Domenicali, President, Formula 1
What’s Next
The full 2027 schedule, including the final Sprint count, is expected within weeks. A decision on Bahrain’s reinstatement should be announced before the July 26 summer break, after which the revised 2026 calendar will be shared with teams, sponsors and broadcasters.
