September 17th 2025

F1 unveils new Sprint venues

The Canadian and Singapore Grands Prix will both host Sprint events for the first time on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.

F1 has confirmed the six venues for the Sprint races next season, with China again the first of the weekends to feature just one practice and two qualifying sessions ahead of a Sprint on Saturday and the main grand prix on a Sunday. Miami also remains on the schedule for what will be the third consecutive year, matching up with the first two Sprints of the past two seasons, but after that there is a shift away from late-season events.

Canada will host a Sprint for the first time in late May – meaning consecutive Sprint weekends in North America – before the British Grand Prix features a Sprint at Silverstone for the second time. Silverstone has previously hosted two races on consecutive weekends amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but only hosted the inaugural Sprint event in 2021.

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will also host a Sprint for the first time in what is the final year of its contract, before the sixth and final Sprint takes place at the Singapore Grand Prix. The original night race venue has never hosted the extra race format, given the difficulty in overtaking on the street circuit, but the timing will ensure the Saturday race takes place in daylight.

There are no additional Sprints added to the current total of six due to the new technical regulations that will be introduced, but RACER understands there could be an expanded schedule in 2027. That number could be as high as 12 Sprint events, with format changes such as reverse grids being considered and discussed with the teams and FIA, as the sport looks to capitalize on higher viewership numbers and increased promoter interest compared to a traditional race weekend.

“The F1 Sprint has continued to grow in positive impact and popularity since it was introduced in 2021," F1 president Stefano Domenicali said. "With four competitive sessions rather than two during a conventional Grand Prix weekend, F1 Sprint events offer more action each day for our fans, broadcast partners, and for the promoters – driving increased attendance and viewership. We’re also proud to have welcomed Gatorade as an Official Partner of F1 Sprint, demonstrating the huge interest in the event from an iconic global brand.

“The 2026 season will usher in a new era of regulations, so having three new Sprint venues will only add to the drama on track. I want to thank the FIA, all the promoters, our partners, marshals, volunteers, and local sporting clubs for continuing to make the Sprint a big success and we all look forward to giving our fans more incredible racing and excitement in the 2026 season.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says drivers will be involved in any decision-making when it comes to changes to the Sprint format, that currently sees a separate qualifying session and short race that pays points to the top eight finishers.

“The Sprint format has become an increasingly exciting part of the FIA Formula One World Championship, delivering high-intensity racing and added entertainment for fans around the world," Ben Sulayem added. "As we look ahead to a landmark 2026 season featuring a new generation of cars and regulations, I’m pleased to see the Sprint evolving alongside our broader ambitions for the sport.

"The inclusion of new venues alongside returning favourites reflects the continued enthusiasm from promoters, teams and fans alike. We will continue to work closely with FOM, the teams, our officials, and the drivers to ensure the Sprint format enhances the championship.”

The selections mean there will be no Sprint at Interlagos for the first time since the format was introduced, while the United States Grand Prix in Austin will also revert to the traditional race weekend schedule for the first time since 2022.

This year, the schedule still features Sprint weekends in Austin, Interlagos and Qatar, meaning there are three Sprints in the final six rounds.

On top of the Sprint calendar, the start times for the 2026 races have been confirmed, with the Canadian Grand Prix one area of focus. Next year's race in Montreal takes place on the same day as the Indianapolis 500 following calendar regionalization, and RACER understands F1 actively engaged with IndyCar to try and avoid a clash. As a result, the Canadian Grand Prix will start at 1600 ET, creating a more than three-hour window to run the Indy 500 in (green flag time 1245 ET) before the races could overlap.

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