Formula 1 plans more Sprint weekends in 2027, Domenicali says
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 7, 2026
Sprint expansion plans
Formula 1 plans to expand its sprint-race schedule in 2027 beyond the current six sprint events, according to Stefano Domenicali. The series has not published the 2027 calendar yet, but Domenicali said more details on the sprint expansion will be announced soon. The move points to another step in F1’s push to widen the format after several seasons of testing the shorter race weekends. It also signals that the championship sees room for more sprint action without changing the shape of every round on the schedule.
The planned expansion matters because sprint weekends have become one of the sport’s most watched experiments. F1 has used them to add competitive action across the three-day format, and the series now appears ready to give them a larger role in 2027. Domenicali’s comments frame the change as part of a broader calendar discussion, not a finished plan. The key point is clear. F1 is preparing to go beyond the six sprint weekends it currently stages, and it wants the next version of the format to reach more fans and more promoters.
Domenicali says
Domenicali said promoter interest in sprint events has grown, and he tied that demand to the format’s impact on attendance. He said sprint races have boosted Friday attendance and overall weekend attendance, which gives the concept a practical case beyond the on-track product. That kind of support matters for F1 because every sprint weekend changes the rhythm of a grand prix event and adds a second competitive session before Sunday’s race. The stronger turnout gives promoters a reason to ask for more of them, and it gives Formula 1 a reason to keep refining how many it wants to use.
He also made clear that F1 does not want sprint weekends at every race. Domenicali said the series wants sprint events to remain a valued bonus rather than a standard fixture at every round. That approach keeps the format special while still giving fans an extra racing element on selected weekends. It also leaves room for the regular grand prix structure to stay intact. The message from F1 is that the sprint has worked as an attraction, but the sport does not want to overload the calendar with it. The goal is more sprint weekends, not a sprint at every stop.
Sprint weekend format
Sprint weekends follow a different structure from a standard Formula 1 event. They start with one Friday practice session, then sprint qualifying later that day. Saturday features the 100-kilometer Sprint, which gives teams and drivers a race before the main grand prix. Sunday then brings grand prix qualifying and the full race. That setup compresses more action into the same weekend and gives fans competitive sessions across all three days.
The format has helped F1 create a stronger Friday product and a busier Saturday, while still preserving the traditional Sunday feature race. It also changes how teams approach the weekend, since there is less time for setup work before competitive running begins. Fans get more meaningful track time and a more varied schedule, and promoters get a lineup that can support stronger crowds across the full event. With F1 planning to expand the sprint calendar in 2027, the format is no longer a side experiment. It is becoming a bigger part of how the championship presents itself to teams, promoters and fans.
