The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will host a Sprint race for the first time in 2027, organisers Ethara Live have confirmed following the release of the calendar.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will once again serve as the season finale, taking place from December 9-12, 2027, with the Sprint race being a part of the event programme.
The race is contested over 100km with no mandatory pit stops and will take place on Saturday with eight championship points on offer to the winner.
The Sprint format, first introduced in 2021, has proven popular with F1 fans. In 2027, Yas Marina Circuit will be among 10 venues that will feature one.
"Every year we grow and evolve the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and we're delighted to have reached an agreement with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sprint to our event.," said Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara.
"This increasingly popular format would draw more fans to Abu Dhabi, strengthen the event’s position on the global calendar and bring more returns for the emirate’s economy and the Abu Dhabi destination brand," he added.
Sprint event increases the total number of points available in Abu Dhabi, meaning higher stakes and more to race for at Yas Marina Circuit.
The addition of the Sprint means competitive F1 racing in Abu Dhabi will start on Friday, with Sprint qualifiers replacing Free Practice 2 (FP2) and the Sprint event itself replacing FP3 on Saturday, before qualifying for the Grand Prix itself happens as always later that day, setting up the grid for the final race of the season on Sunday.
The expanded 2027 schedule will further enhance the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix programme and fan experience, which every year features several support races and spectacular end-of-season celebrations.
More racing. More points. More on the line.
— Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (@abudhabigp) September 16, 2026
F1™️ Sprint at the 2027 @abudhabigp
10–12 December pic.twitter.com/CDdhx7gOIg
The 2027 championship will start at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit on March 14, after February 24-27 testing in the Gulf kingdom, with Saudi Arabia the second round on March 21, Formula One and the governing FIA said.
Portugal (June 20) and Turkey (October 3) are additions with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and Barcelona having dropped off.
Australia (April 4), Japan (April 11) and China (April 18) will form a triple-header on successive weekends before Miami stands alone on May 2 with Canada and Monaco following on May 23 and June 6.
Azerbaijan (September 26), Turkey (October 3) and Singapore (October 10) form another triple-header with Austin (October 24), Mexico (October 31) and Brazil (November 7) lining up as the third.
2027 F1™️ calendar is locked in. All Roads Lead to Yas.
— Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (@abudhabigp) September 16, 2026
📆 10–12 December 2027 pic.twitter.com/B6hbzta2dW
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