F1 fans have lost their minds after seeing controversial 2027 race calendar
Formula 1 fans have lost their minds after the 2027 race calendar was revealed.
The biggest change will see the number of sprint races increase from six to 10 for the next World Championship, with the Monaco Grand Prix among the events set to host one.
There have never been more than six sprint races in a single season, with Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Abu Dhabi also set to host them for the first time. Sprint races will also be held in Canada, Britain, Italy, Brazil and Qatar after the new calendar was announced on Tuesday morning.
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F1 fans lose their minds over Monaco sprint race
The 2027 F1 season is scheduled to begin in Bahrain on the weekend of March 12-14, with a race in Saudi Arabia following the next week. However, both events are in some doubt due to continued unrest in the Middle East.
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The season will also end with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with contingency plans reportedly already being considered should they be unable to go ahead due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Portugal and Turkey have returned to the calendar for the first time since serving as replacement events during the pandemic, while the British Grand Prix will take place on the weekend of July 2-4.
The real controversy comes from the number of sprint races included in the new calendar. There is increased demand for sprint races from organisers because an additional day of competition can result in higher ticket prices and increased revenue.
However, there has been plenty of confusion over the decision to hold one in Monaco, given the famous street circuit makes overtaking extremely difficult and cars rarely have the opportunity to reach top speeds.
It remains one of the most popular race weekends of the season, though, and fans will benefit from two qualifying sessions. The sprint itself is unlikely to provide much drama, however, due to the limited overtaking opportunities.
"Monaco Sprint Raceā¦ā¦ they have lost their mindsā¦ā¦." wrote one social media user, while another added: "That's what happens when you've got a bank account in place of a brain."
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2027 Formula 1 World Championship calendar in full
12-14 March: Bahrain
19-21 March: Saudi Arabia
2-4 April: Australia
9-11 April: Japan
16-18 April: China
30 April-2 May: Miami
21-23 May: Canada
4-6 June: Monaco
18-20 June: Portugal
2-4 July: Britain
9-11 July: Austria
23-25 July: Belgium
30 July-1 August: Hungary
3-5 September: Italy
10-12 September: Spain
24-26 September: Azerbaijan
1-3 October: Turkey
8-10 October: Singapore
22-24 October: USA (Austin)
29-31 October: Mexico
5-7 November: Brazil
18-20 November: Las Vegas
3-5 December: Qatar
10-12 December: Abu Dhabi
Topics:Ā Formula 1
Rich Fay