Components 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has offered an replace on the way forward for the Components 1 calendar, overlaying new races and a rise within the variety of Dash occasions on the schedule.
Regardless of the 2026 Components 1 season being simply across the nook, focus for some is already starting to shift to 2027. Chatting with media at pre-season testing in Bahrain, the game’s CEO Stefano Domenicali offered an replace on future calendar plans.
Domenicali mentioned a possible doubling within the variety of Dash occasions on the calendar, the introduction of a brand new aggressive aspect on Fridays at conventional race weekends and rookie-only follow periods. He additionally commented on delays to the addition of name new occasions to the calendar, whereas hinting {that a} fan-favourite circuit may very well be set to make an imminent return.
Variety of Dash Races to Enhance?
There may very well be main modifications to the Components 1 weekend schedule in 2027, with the game reportedly doubling the variety of Dash occasions from six to 12. It might imply that half of the occasions on the schedule would run the Dash format, which sees an extra 100km race happen on Saturday.
The transfer makes enterprise sense for Components 1. Race promoters pay the game extra money with a view to host Dash occasions, and followers – each at house and trackside – get higher worth for cash with extra significant on-track motion on all three days of the race weekend.
The draw back is the elevated strain on crew members, who face a bigger workload on Dash weekends, the place automobiles should be ready for 2 qualifying periods and two races. The transfer is unlikely to be met with a heat reception from these working throughout the sport, lots of whom really feel they’re already working at their most capability over the course of a season.
This was a serious sticking level when Components 1 final tried to extend the variety of Sprints from three to 6, forward of the 2022 season. Groups pushed again on the plans and delayed the rise within the variety of Sprints by a yr.
Different F1 Weekend Format Tweaks on the Horizon
Other than rising the variety of Dash races, Domenicali additionally hinted that the weekend format could also be modified at non-Dash weekends to introduce a aggressive aspect to the on-track motion on Friday.
Beneath the present rules, two hour-long Free Observe periods happen on Friday on conventional race weekends. Though these periods symbolize vital on-track studying time for the groups, the Dash format – the place there’s solely a single hour of follow earlier than qualifying for the Dash race – means that the second hour of on-track operating shouldn’t be crucial.
Though Domenicali was not forthcoming with what aggressive aspect may very well be added to the Friday timetable at conventional race weekends, he stated that “a package deal of concepts” will probably be introduced by the summer season. He was additionally aware that modifications to the weekend format may end in an absence of follow time which can hinder the extra inexperienced drivers within the area. On plans to handle this challenge, he stated that “we are going to current shortly one thing actual on this respect”, suggesting rookie-only follow periods throughout race weekends might quickly turn into a actuality.
No New Races Earlier than 2029 – however a Basic May Return
Regardless of Thailand and a race on the African continent beforehand being earmarked to affix the calendar in 2028, Domenicali now says that he can’t see any model new races becoming a member of the schedule earlier than 2029, owing to the variety of occasions already with contracts in place.
Beneath the current settlement, F1 is unable to stage greater than 24 Grand Prix weekends per season. Though there have been stories that the calendar may broaden additional sooner or later to 25 rounds, Domenicali now says that “we don’t wish to broaden the quantity”. Occasions which have contracts which are up for renewal in or earlier than 2029 embrace Las Vegas, Singapore, Mexico, Portugal and Japan.
Extra instantly, there’s one slot nonetheless accessible on the 2027 Components 1 calendar. Dutch Grand Prix host Zandvoort will depart the calendar after 2026 – however its place has already been stuffed by the returning Portuguese Grand Prix. The newly accessible free 2027 slot is because of the information that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – former host of the Spanish Grand Prix, now host of the Barcelona Grand Prix – will seem on the calendar in alternate seasons, rotating with the Belgian Grand Prix.
The frontrunner to fill the void is fan-favourite Istanbul Park, host of the Turkish Grand Prix. Rumours of the occasion’s return have been just about persistent because it final hosted an occasion again in 2021. We famous again in January that circuit bosses have talked up their possibilities of a everlasting return to the schedule, if monetary enter from the federal government could be discovered. A five-year deal is believed to be inside attain.
On its potential return, Domenicali stated: “Keep tuned on Turkey, let me put it this fashion”, noting “the brand new ones which are coming are everlasting tracks and never road races.”
Amongst different factors in Domenicali’s press briefing, he confirmed that F1 would return to a single pre-season take a look at forward of the 2027 season, and stated “work is underway” on a possible return of a season launch occasion, just like the F1 75 present which befell at London’s O2 final February.
