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Paddock rumours point to 12-round F1 sprint expansion for 2027
Formula 1 is reportedly considering doubling its sprint schedule to 12 events in 2027, though any potential format expansion remains unconfirmed.
By Sanne Vermeer - 2026-08-17T13:39:07.000Z - 2 min read
Whispers in the paddock suggest Formula 1 management is weighing an ambitious overhaul of its weekend structure, with proposals circulating to double the number of sprint events to 12 by the 2027 season. The mooted expansion remains entirely unverified, with championship organizers yet to formalize any schedule changes or present a ratified proposal to the teams.
First introduced in 2021 as a three-round trial, the alternative format was created to inject competitive stakes into every day of a grand prix weekend. That footprint doubled to six rounds in 2023, establishing a cadence that continues through the current 2026 campaign with events staged in China, Miami, Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, and Singapore.
Under the present sprint timetable, standard preparation is heavily compressed. Teams receive just a single 60-minute practice session on Friday before heading straight into a truncated three-part sprint qualifying shootout. Saturday morning then hosts the standalone 100-kilometre dash, preceding the main qualifying session that sets the grid for Sunday.
Across five seasons of sprint running, Max Verstappen has proven the most prolific competitor under the shortened format, amassing 13 sprint victories. McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri follow on four and three wins respectively, while current championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed his first sprint victory at Silverstone earlier this summer.
Talk of an expanded 12-race sprint roster arrives at a demanding juncture for the paddock. Following the four-week summer break, the championship resumes at Zandvoort to begin an unrelenting stretch of 12 grands prix across just 16 weeks, while logistical questions remain regarding how the final rounds of the year will conclude amid Middle Eastern instability.
This weekend at Zandvoort also marks the fifth sprint round of 2026 and the final Dutch Grand Prix before the seaside venue drops off the calendar ahead of 2027. While local favourite Verstappen seeks a return to form after a winless run for Red Bull this year, Mercedes arrives as the benchmark team following six victories for Antonelli.
Whether the commercial appetite to double sprint commitments will overcome team operational concerns remains to be seen. For now, any prospective leap to 12 sprint weekends in 2027 stands strictly as an unconfirmed talking point rather than agreed policy.