New Delhi, September 16: With perennial tensions in the Middle East, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has planned to open up the racing
calendar in Bahrain as well for the upcoming 2027 season. The apex body released a 24-race schedule for 2027 on Wednesday, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14 and then Saudi Arabia a week later, with events also scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.
All three places have long-term contracts to host F1. Moreover, Bahrain also hosts pre-season testing in February. Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off this year due to the Iran war. An extra race in Malaysia next month will have Bahrain Grand Prix branding. The Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 29 and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6 remain on the schedule.
"The 2027 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is a strong reflection of the global appeal and continued growth of our sport. With twenty-four Grands Prix across five continents, the return of Portugal and TÜrkiye, and the opportunity for an expanded Sprint programme, the calendar combines tradition, innovation, and fan engagement while maintaining the highest sporting standards," Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said.
F1 Race Calendar 2027
Formula 1 had earlier reportedly explored the possibility of shifting a race to Europe if its current plans cannot proceed, although tickets for both scheduled events are still available. Bahrain has traditionally featured as the opening round in many recent F1 seasons, but it was moved later in the calendar in 2025 and 2026 to avoid coinciding with Ramadan.
The 2027 calendar also steers clear of two major events in the motorsport world: the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which takes place from June 12 to 13. This marks a change from the current season, when F1 races were held on the same weekends as both events.
Formula 1 is set to increase the number of Sprint events from six to 10 in 2027, with Monaco hosting a Sprint for the first time despite its notoriously limited overtaking opportunities. Bahrain is also scheduled to host a Sprint during the season opener, which would be the first time an F1 season begins with a Sprint before its opening Grand Prix. According to F1, weekends featuring Sprint races have recorded average viewership 12% higher than those without them.
By increasing their number, F1 is "giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action that make our sport so special," chief executive Stefano Domenicali said after the release of the F1 calendar.
F1 Marks A Return To Portugal Since 2021
Formula 1 will return to Portugal in June 2027, with the PortimÃo circuit hosting a race for the first time since 2021 after replacing the Dutch Grand Prix. TÜrkiye will also return to the calendar in October 2027 under a new five-year agreement signed in April.
Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, meanwhile, will be absent from the F1 calendar for the first time since 1990. The circuit lost the Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid this year but remained on the schedule under the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix title. It will now alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix and is scheduled to return in 2028.
F1 2027 CALENDAR WITH PRE-TESTING VENUES
| Round | Date | Country | Grand Prix / Format | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Season Testing | 24-27 February | Bahrain | Pre-Season Testing | Sakhir |
| 1 | 12-14 March | Bahrain | Bahrain GP (Sprint) | Sakhir |
| 2 | 19-21 March | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabian GP | Jeddah |
| 3 | 2-4 April | Australia | Australian GP (Sprint) | Melbourne |
| 4 | 9-11 April | Japan | Japanese GP (Sprint) | Suzuka |
| 5 | 16-18 April | China | Chinese GP | Shanghai |
| 6 | 30 April-2 May | USA | Miami GP | Miami |
| 7 | 21-23 May | Canada | Canadian GP (Sprint) | Montreal |
| 8 | 4-6 June | Monaco | Monaco GP (Sprint) | Monaco |
| 9 | 18-20 June | Portugal | Portuguese GP | PortimÃo |
| 10 | 2-4 July | Great Britain | British GP (Sprint) | Silverstone |
| 11 | 9-11 July | Austria | Austrian GP | Spielberg |
| 12 | 23-25 July | Belgium | Belgian GP | Spa-Francorchamps |
| 13 | 30 July-1 August | Hungary | Hungarian GP | Budapest |
| 14 | 3-5 September | Italy | Italian GP (Sprint) | Monza |
| 15 | 10-12 September | Spain | Spanish GP | Madrid |
| 16 | 24-26 September | Azerbaijan | Azerbaijan GP | Baku |
| 17 | 1-3 October | TÜrkiye | Turkish GP | Istanbul* |
| 18 | 8-10 October | Singapore | Singapore GP | Singapore |
| 19 | 22-24 October | USA | United States GP | Austin |
| 20 | 29-31 October | Mexico | Mexico City GP | Mexico City |
| 21 | 5-7 November | Brazil | SÃo Paulo GP (Sprint) | SÃo Paulo |
| 22 | 18-20 November | USA | Las Vegas GP | Las Vegas |
| 23 | 3-5 December | Qatar | Qatar GP (Sprint) | Lusail |
| 24 | 10-12 December | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi GP (Sprint) | Yas Marina |
* Subject to FIA circuit homologation.
F1's Middle Eastern races remain an important source of revenue for the championship and its teams, with substantial hosting fees and major sponsorship deals involving Saudi Arabia's Aramco and Qatar Airways. However, ongoing security concerns have raised questions over the future of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds. There was no indication Wednesday that either race was close to being cancelled or relocated.
Among the possible European alternatives, Italy's Imola circuit is reportedly viewed as the most likely option, potentially for a season-ending race. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in July that a decision could be made around mid-September.
The security situation has also brought the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix into focus, as Baku will be the closest F1 has raced to Iran since the war began earlier this year. Azerbaijan shares a land border with Iran.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem defended the decision to wait before confirming the status of the Middle Eastern races, saying F1 should not "jump the gun" and insisting that the safety of drivers, teams and staff would remain the priority.
Speculation increased this week after Formula 2, which is scheduled to support F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, added an additional race in Azerbaijan next week. F2 has nevertheless confirmed that it plans to compete in both Qatar and Abu Dhabi using its standard weekend format.
