F1 announces 2027 calendar with 10 Sprint weekends

F1's 2027 calendar is confirmed: 24 rounds for a fourth straight year, Sprint weekends increasing from six to 10, and Bahrain opening the season on March 12-14. Portimao and Istanbul Park return; Zandvoort drops off.

Why it matters:

The expanded Sprint programme adds more high-stakes weekends but increases the load on teams. The calendar also confirms a rotation between Barcelona-Catalunya and Spa, preserving both venues. F1 delayed the announcement due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which still creates uncertainty over the end of the current season.

The details:

• Season opener: Bahrain hosts pre-season testing on Feb 24-27 before the opener. Saudi Arabia follows a week later; Australia, Japan and China form an early triple-header.
• Sprint expansion: Ten rounds use the Sprint format, including Monaco for the first time, plus Australia, Japan, Canada, Britain, Monza, Brazil, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
• Returning venues: Portimao slots into mid-June; Istanbul Park joins Azerbaijan and Singapore in September.
• Calendar shifts: Zandvoort is out. Barcelona-Catalunya rotates with Spa, with Spa in odd years from 2027 and Barcelona in even years from 2028. Madrid's Spanish Grand Prix stays in September.
• Americas and finale: Austin, Mexico and Brazil form the usual triple-header, Las Vegas is the only Saturday race, and Qatar and Abu Dhabi close the season on Dec 10-12.

What's next:

F1 president Stefano Domenicali called the calendar "an incredible stage" and welcomed the expanded Sprint programme. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem cited 24 Grands Prix across five continents as proof of the sport's growth. Teams now prepare for a season with more Sprint weekends than ever before.