F1 set for unprecedented points haul after 2027 Sprint expansion

The Sprint format, introduced in Formula 1 in 2021, has undergone several changes over the years, both in terms of its format and the number and location of events. The concept will evolve once again in 2027, with the number of Sprint weekends increasing from six to ten.

Four new venues will join the Sprint calendar for the first time: Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Abu Dhabi, while Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Brazil and Qatar will once again host Sprint weekends, having already staged the format in previous seasons. Monaco will be the most notable new addition, with the iconic street circuit set to host its first-ever Sprint weekend.

The increase in the number of Sprint races from six in 2026 to ten in 2027 will have a significant impact on the total number of points available throughout next season. As a result, the combined points scored across the Sprint weekends could play a more decisive role in the battle for both championships, giving the shorter races greater significance than they have today.

With 24 Grands Prix scheduled in both seasons, the points awarded across the main races will remain unchanged at 2,424. Each Grand Prix distributes 101 points among the top ten finishers, meaning the 24-race calendar accounts for 2,424 points in both 2026 and 2027.

The difference comes entirely from the Sprint format. In 2026, six Sprint races will distribute a total of 216 points, with 36 points available in each Sprint. In 2027, however, the number of Sprint events will rise to ten, increasing the number of points available from these shorter races to 360.

As a result, the additional four Sprint races will add 144 points to the championship total, giving drivers and teams more opportunities to score points outside the traditional Grand Prix weekends.

Overall, the 2026 season will see 2,640 points awarded across its 24 Grands Prix and six Sprint races. In 2027, that figure will rise to 2,784 points, representing an increase of 144 points, or approximately 5.45 per cent.

The change means that the 2027 championship will have the highest number of points available in a Formula 1 season, with the additional Sprint races playing a key role in increasing the importance of the format and giving the shorter races a greater influence on the final championship standings.

Over the past 30 years, using a comparison of seasons at ten-year intervals, the total number of points awarded in Formula 1 has increased exponentially. The total rose from 416 points in 1996 to 702 in 2006, before reaching 2,121 in 2016 and 2,640 in 2026. The increase has been driven not only by the expansion of the calendar, but also by changes to the points system, most notably the shift to the current system, which awards 25 points for a Grand Prix victory.