Formula One reveals six-round sprint schedule for 2026 with Silverstone returning
Silverstone will stage its first sprint in five years as F1 eyes possible expansion to as many as 12 sprints from 2027 after viewing gains
Formula One has confirmed a six-round sprint schedule for 2026 that brings the shortened-format races back to Silverstone for the first time in five years.
The 2026 sprint calendar will include the British Grand Prix alongside Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore, organisers said. The British round, one of 24 races on next year's global calendar, is scheduled for the first weekend of July.
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali said the sprint format had continued to grow in popularity since its introduction in 2021, arguing the extra sessions deliver more action for fans, broadcasters and race promoters. "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," he said.
Domenicali added that 2026 will ‘‘usher in a new era of regulations,’’ and that the addition of Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore as sprint venues would increase on-track drama. F1 officials are in discussions with the FIA, teams and drivers about further expanding the sprint roster, with plans under consideration to grow the number to as many as 12 from 2027. Data from last season showed average TV viewership for sprint weekends was about 10 percent higher than for non-sprint weekends, organisers said.
Silverstone staged the sport's first-ever sprint in 2021 but had not featured on the sprint roster since then. Max Verstappen won that original Silverstone sprint and has emerged as the dominant sprint competitor overall, claiming 12 of the 21 sprints held to date. Valtteri Bottas, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have each taken two sprint wins, while George Russell, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton have all recorded one apiece.
Lando Norris, who won his home British Grand Prix this season, could face a home sprint at Silverstone next year if the newly announced schedule remains in place. The sprint format, introduced as a way to add competitive sessions and build weekend excitement, typically features a shortened race on Saturday that contributes to the weekend's outcome and awards points to drivers.
Officials have also discussed possible tweaks to the sprint format as it grows in prominence. One idea that has been mooted is the introduction of reverse grids for sprint races, a concept aimed at increasing unpredictability and on-track overtaking, though no concrete changes have been finalised and any alterations would require agreement from the FIA and the teams.
The 2026 season will coincide with wide-ranging regulation changes that organisers say could reshape competition. Adding sprint venues in Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore is intended to broaden the format’s footprint across different types of circuits, from high-speed traditional tracks to street circuits, and to provide more varied spectacle ahead of and during the new technical era.
F1's governing bodies and stakeholders will continue discussions on the scope and format of future sprint races through the remainder of the year. For now, the return of Silverstone to the sprint roster marks a notable restoration of one of the format’s early and high-profile venues as the sport prepares for a regulatory reset and a renewed push to grow weekend audiences.