Formula One CEO says to expect more sprint races in 2027
Reduced distance sprint races, with eight points to the winner, are held on Saturday mornings with qualifying replacing the usual second Friday practice.
Stefano Domenicali, Formula One's CEO, anticipates the introduction of additional sprint races in 2027 while preserving their exclusivity value. The 2027 race calendar is still being drafted, with Middle Eastern events potentially affected by the ongoing Iran conflict. However, Domenicali confirmed that the season will consist of 24 rounds, matching the 2026 schedule.
Sprint races, featuring shorter distances and eight points for the winner, currently unfold on Saturdays, preceding race weekends. Domenicali aims to expand this format, emphasizing its impact on Friday and daily race attendance. Flavio Briatore, owner of Renault’s Alpine team, advocates for sprint races at every race weekend, arguing that they inject excitement and give spectators more to follow.
Despite a 38% revenue drop to $764 million for the first quarter of 2026, attributed to fewer races, Domenicali highlighted a 13% increase in viewership and total hours watched since partnering with Apple for U.S. broadcasts.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
