'Number of Formula 1 Sprint races to increase for the 2027 season'

During the 2025 season, this website reported that discussions had begun within the FIA with the teams and drivers about increasing the number of Sprint races. The talks also included possible changes to the format. GPblog also understood at the time that the maximum number of Sprint races would be capped at 12. The idea was discussed again during the 2026 F1 Commission meeting.

Back in 2025, the current championship leader, Kimi Antonelli said: "As a driver it’s a challenge—one free practice and then straight into qualifying."The challenge is to get to the limit and understand how much you can push. In just one free practice you have to gather so much information—both for qualifying and for the race.

"Even though you have the Sprint afterwards, you still try to do some learning on that side as well. It’s quite intense, very challenging, and it’s good. They’re exciting. The weekend is very active you only have only one free practice and then either qualifying or Sprint, and then the main race. It’s good fun—I’ve been enjoying the Sprint weekends this year, so I wouldn’t mind having more of those in the future."

Speaking to Sky Sports at Silverstone, Domenicali highlighted the success of Sprint weekends in the competition. He said: "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.

"Therefore, I think that this is the way to go, and we are on the process of announcing the bigger number for the future and this will come when we announce the calendar very, very soon. Stay tuned," the Italian explained.

According to the British broadcaster, the number of Sprint races next season will likely increase to nine or 10. With 24 Grands Prix on the calendar, that would mean a total of 34 races, including both Sprints and Grands Prix.

This season, there are six Sprint weekends in total. Four of them have already been contested in China, Miami, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Two more will follow in the Netherlands and Singapore later this year.