Monaco GP to host first F1 Sprint in 2027 as expanded calendar confirmed

Formula 1 has confirmed Monaco will host its first Sprint in 2027 as part of an expanded 10-event Sprint calendar. The announcement came with the release of the F1 2027 calendar, which features 24 Grands Prix and the return of Portugal and Türkiye.

Why it matters:

Monaco has long been the most glamorous yet often the most processional race on the calendar. This year's mandatory two-pit stop rule produced just ten overtakes in a race won by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, doing little to silence critics. Adding a Sprint is a direct attempt to inject more on-track action into a weekend where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

The Details:

• The 2027 season will feature 10 Sprints, up from six this year.
• Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Abu Dhabi, and Monaco are first-time Sprint hosts.
• Canada, Silverstone, Monza, Brazil, and Qatar will also stage Sprints.
• With Qatar hosting the penultimate round, that weekend will carry a maximum of 33 points.
• F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the expansion gives fans "even more intensity, drama, and wheel-to-wheel action."
• FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called the calendar "a strong reflection of the global appeal and continued growth of our sport."

What's next:

The big question is whether a Monaco Sprint will produce excitement or caution. With only hours between the Sprint and Saturday qualifying, drivers may be wary of damaging their cars before the main event. A crash in the Sprint could leave a driver starting at the back for Sunday's Grand Prix, where the big points are won. That risk could make Monaco's first Sprint either a thrilling addition or a cautious procession of its own.