F1 could get around 10 sprint races by 2027 as promoters embrace their value

With competition ramping up for Formula 1’s increasingly popular sprint format, the series is understood to be keen to move beyond six sprint slots per season as early as 2027.

F1 introduced sprint races ahead of the 2021 season as a way to increase the spectacle on offer over a grand prix weekend and provide a more compelling product to TV viewers and spectators at the track. The series initially experimented with three sprint rounds per year before expanding to six sprints from 2023 onwards, having repeatedly tweaked the sprint format to address early criticism from fans and teams.

As the F1 calendar has grown to a maximum of 24 grands prix, that means just a quarter of the races gets the opportunity to host a sprint each season. And as public opinion on the format – and that of the drivers – is gradually trending more positive, competition is also ramping up as more and more promoters are starting to embrace the value they offer.

Value for money

Bobby Epstein, the co-founder and managing partner of Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, which is welcoming a return of the sprint format to this month’s United States Grand Prix, says he hasn’t noticed a big uptick in ticket sales as a result, but believes the sprint format has added a lot of value to the visiting fans.

“I think it just gives more value to the ticket,” Epstein told select media, including Autosport. “I don’t know [if] that it’s translated to a lot more ticket sales, but the fans seem to be warming up to it. It wasn’t immediately seen as a desirable asset, and it didn’t necessarily drive ticket sales for a while. I just think it increases the value of the ticket and gives people more, which we always appreciate. We want as much entertainment as we can get for the weekend.

“If they’re buying a weekend pass and they stay more hours at the circuit, that’s better for us, more content. I don’t know that people make their buying decision to come to a grand prix because it has a sprint race or not. We just haven’t seen it move the needle in terms of sales and demand, but I have no doubt that it’s more entertainment, and we’re all about that.”

Epstein’s Miami Grand Prix counterpart Tyler Epp told Autosport last year that sprints were starting to make a difference at the Florida event. At the time Epp admitted that he was initially sceptical about the potential impact of adding a sprint race but has since come around to recognising their value. In Miami’s case, its first-ever sprint did cause a spike in Saturday attendance at the 2024 edition, and the venue was happy to host another one earlier this year.

“I was wrong about the sprint race, I was very concerned about the value proposition there, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” Epp said late last year. “The feedback and the data we got showed that year over year our attendance was up on a Saturday, and they were there early for a sprint race.”

FOM eyes more sprint races by 2027

With F1 sticking to just six sprints on the calendar per season for now, those slots have been in demand, with Belgian Grand Prix organisers stating they were “very honoured” to be “the only European venue” hosting one this year.

But that may well change as F1 chief Stefano Domenicali hinted at an increase in sprint races over the medium term. The number of Saturday races will remain at six for the 2026 season, but Autosport understands discussions are ongoing to increase that number to around 10 as early as 2027, which would require support from commercial rightsholder FOM, governing body the FIA, and the teams.

“I have to say that aside from some older die-hard fans, everyone wants sprint weekends,” Domenicali told Autosport and other media ahead of last week’s Italian Grand Prix. “Promoters push for this format and now the drivers are interested as well.

“I’m being a bit provocative, but free practice appeals to super-specialists; people who want to see more action prefer a sprint weekend. There’s more to discuss and comment on from Friday – there’s a qualifying session – but I understand it has to become part of F1 culture.

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“The direction is clear: I can guarantee that in a few years there will be the demand to have all weekends with the same format. I’m not saying we’ll get to MotoGP, which has a sprint at every round – that’s too big a step. I see it more as a maturation process that respects a more traditionalist approach.”

In the same interview Domenicali also floated the idea of reverse grid races and shorter grand prix distances. Those comments aren’t understood as concrete steps FOM and its owner Liberty Media are taking, but they did trigger a wider discussion on whether or not F1 would be wise to pursue a radical format shake-up to cater to a younger demographic of fans.

COTA’s Epstein admitted F1 faces a “tough balance” to preserve but he would back whatever the series decides to do in the future: “I think Stefano would only do that if he thought it was in the best interest of the sport.

“Part of what makes Stefano such a brilliant leader is his ability to help F1 evolve and remain relevant without sacrificing the sport’s rich heritage and tradition. So, it’s a tough balance, but he does it with passion and without sacrificing the interests of either the fans, the teams, or the competitors.

“We’ll keep focusing on providing a great fan experience and let Stefano decide what’s best for the sport itself. I’ve got full confidence in him.”