F1: 2025 Formula 1 Sprint Calendar Unveiled; Belgium Included in the Lineup

Formula 1 has officially unveiled the six Grand Prix weekends that will incorporate the sprint race format in the 2025 season. Significantly, the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit makes a welcome return to the sprint calendar, displacing the Austrian Grand Prix for the first time since 2021. Continuity remains the theme for five locations. China, Miami, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar will once again host Saturday sprint races, building upon the success of previous seasons. Belgium, which hosted a sprint race in 2023 but was omitted in 2024 alongside Azerbaijan, will return to the sprint calendar, replacing Austria. The Austrian Grand Prix first hosted a sprint in 2022 and remained on the schedule for the following two seasons. The São Paulo Grand Prix, renowned for its captivating sprint races since the format's inception in 2021, will retain the shorter Saturday race. Similarly, both the United States and Qatar Grands Prix, which were added to the expanded six-race sprint calendar in 2023, will hold onto their Saturday sprint events for the upcoming season.

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F1 2025: Sprint Calendar

The short, action-packed F1 Sprint format, introduced in 2021, has become a fan favourite. Broadcast, digital, and social media platforms consistently see strong viewership numbers for Sprint races. This excitement translates to real-world attendance as well, with packed grandstands on Fridays during Sprint weekends. For promoters, Sprints offers a powerful tool to boost the entire race weekend experience, attracting fans and generating additional buzz.

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Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “The Sprint has been a great success for Formula 1, bringing all our fans more action and racing on the track. We are seeing proof of this in our audience data, fan attendance on Fridays and from the promoters and partners.

"As we prepare to celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2025 we will always celebrate our incredible history, but we must always be looking ahead, innovating, and improving to deliver the best for our growing and diverse fanbase.

"The Sprint is a great example of bringing new elements to our sport in a way that is respectful of the Championship, and I want to thank the six venues that will host the Sprint in 2025 and look forward to those incredible events throughout the season.”

In 2024, the sprint race moves to Saturday before Grand Prix qualifying, bringing several benefits. Firstly, it gives teams time to analyze data and tweak car setups after the sprint, addressing any issues revealed during the shorter race. This flexibility is vital with less practice time available. Secondly, separating the sprint from qualifying eliminates the risk of penalties affecting the main Grand Prix. Now, drivers can freely experiment with setups for the longer race, encouraging a more strategic and dynamic approach to the entire weekend. It is expected that F1 will likely keep this format for next season.