Abu Dhabi is set to host its first Formula 1 Sprint race in 2027, bringing an additional competitive session to the Yas Marina Circuit as part of a broader expansion of the Sprint format.
Formula 1’s 2027 calendar features 24 Grands Prix and 10 Sprint weekends, up from six in 2026. Abu Dhabi is among five venues selected to stage a Sprint for the first time, alongside Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Monaco.
The change applies to the 2027 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The current 2026 schedule remains separate: the Abu Dhabi season finale is scheduled for December 4–6, with the Grand Prix on December 6 and no Sprint listed for the Yas Marina weekend.
Abu Dhabi gets a new Saturday race
The 2027 season is scheduled to finish in Abu Dhabi on December 12, making the Yas Marina Circuit one of the 10 venues that will host the shortened race format during the season.
A Sprint weekend changes the traditional Grand Prix schedule by adding a competitive race on Saturday. Under the established format, Sprint Qualifying takes place on Friday, the Sprint is held on Saturday, followed later that day by Grand Prix qualifying, and the main Grand Prix takes place on Sunday.
For Abu Dhabi, that means the season finale will have an additional points-paying F1 race before the main Grand Prix.
The 2027 calendar announcement reported by The Guardian confirms that Abu Dhabi will join the Sprint schedule for the first time. The other new Sprint venues are Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Monaco, while Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, São Paulo and Lusail return to the Sprint calendar.
F1 expands Sprint format to 10 events
Formula 1 introduced the Sprint format in 2021 and has used six Sprint weekends in recent seasons. For 2027, the number will rise to 10.
The format is designed to create more competitive track action across a Grand Prix weekend. The FIA said when announcing the 2026 Sprint calendar that Sprint weekends provide competitive action on each day of the event, with Sprint Qualifying on Friday, the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, followed by the Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 2026 Sprint calendar contains six venues: Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore. Abu Dhabi is not among them.
The expansion therefore represents a change for the UAE event rather than a change to the current 2026 race weekend.
Abu Dhabi remains the F1 season finale
The 2027 calendar keeps Abu Dhabi in its familiar position at the end of the championship.
The season is scheduled to begin in Bahrain on March 14 and conclude at Yas Marina on December 12. Portugal and Turkey will also return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027, with races planned for Portimão and Istanbul respectively.
The calendar contains 24 races, matching the number scheduled for 2026, but several venues have changed. Barcelona will rotate with the Belgian Grand Prix under the new arrangement, while Zandvoort’s current run on the calendar ends after the 2026 race.
For Abu Dhabi, the addition of the Sprint gives the Yas Marina finale a different weekend structure while retaining its position as the championship’s closing event.
What UAE fans can expect
The addition of the Sprint means fans attending the 2027 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend should have an extra F1 race to watch on Saturday, subject to the final event timetable.
The Sprint itself is a shorter race than the main Grand Prix and awards championship points to the leading finishers. It is separate from the full Grand Prix and does not replace Sunday’s race.
Yas Marina Circuit has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since Formula 1’s first visit to the venue in 2009. The current circuit layout is 5.281 kilometres long, with the Grand Prix covering 58 laps.
The 2027 Sprint will therefore add a new competitive element to an event that traditionally serves as Formula 1’s season-ending weekend.
For UAE-based F1 followers, the important distinction is timing: there is no Abu Dhabi Sprint in 2026; the first one is scheduled for the 2027 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
When will Abu Dhabi host its first F1 Sprint?
Abu Dhabi is scheduled to host its first Formula 1 Sprint during the 2027 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Will the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have a Sprint?
No. The official 2026 calendar lists Abu Dhabi as a conventional Grand Prix weekend from December 4–6, with the race on December 6.
When is the 2027 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The 2027 season is scheduled to conclude in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2027.
How many F1 Sprint races will there be in 2027?
The 2027 calendar increases the number of Sprint events from six to 10.
Where will the 2027 Abu Dhabi F1 race take place?
The race will take place at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
What is an F1 Sprint?
An F1 Sprint is a shorter competitive race held on Saturday of selected Grand Prix weekends. It awards championship points and is separate from Sunday’s main Grand Prix.
Which other venues will host their first F1 Sprint in 2027?
Bahrain, Australia, Japan and Monaco will join Abu Dhabi as new Sprint venues in 2027.
