Formula 1 is once again reviewing the future of its sprint format. Discussions are underway to increase the number of sprint weekends from six to ten by the 2027 season – First introduced in 2021, the format was designed to add an additional competitive session to the race weekend, providing more content for both fans and broadcasters.
The original idea was cautiously tested with three sprint weekends in 2021, before being expanded to six events in 2023. Although the sprint race format has been criticised in the past, changes to the rules have made it more appealing to drivers, teams and fans. However, with the Formula 1 calendar now stretching to 24 races, only a quarter of those weekends currently feature a sprint. Promoters increasingly recognise the added value of hosting a sprint, which has led to mounting pressure on Formula 1 management to increase the allocation.
Bobby Epstein, co-founder and managing partner of COTA (Circuit of the Americas), says that, although sprints have not yet led to a significant increase in ticket sales, they offer fans better value for money.
“I think it just adds value to the ticket, and we’re grateful for that,” he explained. “I don’t know if it has led to significantly more ticket sales, but fans seem to be getting used to it.”
The verdict on sprints is mixed
Epstein went on to note that the introduction of sprint races has not been the decisive factor in whether fans attend a Grand Prix. ‘I don’t think the decision to come to a Grand Prix depends on whether there’s a sprint race or not. In any case, we haven’t noticed any impact on sales or demand. But I have no doubt that it offers more entertainment. And that’s what we’re all about,” he said.
Interestingly, however, Miami has seen a different outcome. Tyler Epp, president of the Miami GP, admitted that he was initially sceptical, but was proven wrong. The first sprint race in Miami in 2024 boosted Saturday attendance, and the circuit quickly committed to hosting sprints again.
“I was wrong about the sprint race. I was very concerned about value for money, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” Epp confessed. He noted that Saturday crowd figures have grown significantly year on year since the sprint was added.
With only six sprint slots currently permitted per year, promoters have been left lobbying for inclusion. Spa’s organisers even described themselves as “very honoured” to be the only European venue granted a sprint in 2025. However, this exclusivity may soon disappear.
Domenicali’s vision of the future
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has been increasingly open about his desire to expand the sprint calendar. While confirming that the number of sprints will not change in 2026, he has hinted that there could be ten sprints in 2027. This would require the approval of FOM, the FIA and the teams, but Domenicali insists that momentum is moving in one direction.
“Apart from a few older, more dedicated fans, everyone wants sprint races,” he said ahead of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix.
“The promoters are pushing for this format, and now the drivers are interested too.”
“From Friday onwards, there’s more to discuss and comment on since qualifying begins. I understand that it has to become part of Formula 1 culture, but the direction is clear.”
While not advocating a sprint at every race weekend, Domenicali has emphasised that the trend is moving towards a unified format.
“I can guarantee that in a few years, there will be a demand to hold all weekends in the same format. I’m not saying we’ll end up like MotoGP, with a sprint at every race. That would be too big a step.”
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Shorter races?
The Italian has also suggested ideas such as shorter races and even reverse grids. While FOM and Liberty Media have dismissed these as speculative musings rather than concrete proposals, the comments have sparked debate about whether Formula 1 should embrace more radical changes in order to appeal to younger audiences. For now, the official line is that the sport must evolve without abandoning its traditions.
Epstein backs Domenicali’s leadership, praising his ability to balance modernisation with respect for Formula 1’s history.
“Part of what makes Stefano such a brilliant leader is his ability to evolve Formula 1 and keep it relevant without sacrificing the sport’s rich heritage and tradition. It’s a difficult balance, but he achieves it with passion and without neglecting the interests of the fans, teams or drivers”.
The sprint race paradox
So here we are again: a sport that cannot stop tinkering with itself. Formula 1 introduced sprints to shake up the weekend, then spent the next four years tweaking them after the first attempt left half the paddock wondering what they had just watched. Now, with the six-event limit looking measly in a 24-race calendar, promoters are queuing up with the enthusiasm of Black Friday shoppers, eager for their chance at a Saturday dash.
The irony is that, while promoters and Domenicali claim that fans love it, actual ticket sales have barely increased in most markets. People do not cross continents just to watch a 100-kilometre race on Saturday. They come because it is Formula 1. The sprint gives broadcasters more live content for their channels and enables promoters to claim ‘three days of racing action’ in their marketing material. The accountants are happy, the sponsors are happy, and the jury is still out.
Meanwhile, the drivers have been drawn into the debate. Once sceptical, some have come to enjoy the extra competitive session, mainly because it gives them something to do other than collect endless data in practice. Free practice, according to Domenicali, is only for ‘super specialists’ anyway. This makes one wonder what those of us who enjoy watching the subtle art of set-up think, but perhaps we are merely niche enthusiasts.
If this trend continues, we may reach a future where Formula 1 is ‘sprintified’ into a weekend resembling a streaming service binge session: quick and digestible with just enough cliff-hangers to keep you watching until Sunday. Whether that enhances the drama or just makes the main event feel like an extended season finale is another question.
Reverse grids enter the conversation for serious consideration
Just as the sprint debate seemed to be settling into a question of numbers, Chris Medland, one of the most respected voices in the paddock, threw a grenade into the discussion. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Medland revealed that Formula 1 is set to take seriously and discuss an expansion to twelve sprints per year from 2027 and the introduction of reverse grids for Saturday races is on the cards.
“It’s understood that F1 will discuss ideas such as reverse grid sprints from 2027 (and maybe expand to 12) with the teams and drivers,” Medland wrote, before launching a poll asking fans whether they would be open to such a twist in the format.
If true, this would represent a significant change to the sprint format. Reverse grids have long been considered taboo in Formula 1 and dismissed by traditionalists as an artificial gimmick. The idea has been tested in junior categories with mixed results, providing chaotic entertainment but also generating plenty of scepticism. For motorsport’s pinnacle, even raising the topic suggests that Liberty Media and Formula 1 management are willing to push boundaries further than before.
What might this mean for the sport? On the one hand, reverse-grid sprints could deliver the unpredictable action that television executives crave. On the other hand, however, they risk undermining the concept of sporting purity that Formula 1 claims to uphold. If the fastest car starts from the back on Saturday, are we still watching the best drivers and teams win, or just a spectacle designed for short attention spans?
Medland’s report has shifted the conversation from ‘should we have six or ten?’ to ‘are we ready to fundamentally change what a Formula 1 weekend means?’
Would more sprints enhance Formula 1, or are we already pushing the boundaries of the Grand Prix weekend? If reverse grids are placed on the negotiating table for 2027, would you welcome the chaos or reject it as unworthy of the sport’s heritage?
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