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Yas Marina Circuit will host its first F1 Sprint race in 2027 as part of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will host a Formula 1 Sprint race for the first time, organizers Ethara Live confirmed, Gulf News reported. The announcement follows the release of next season's F1 calendar.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2027?
Yas Marina Circuit is set to stage the season finale from December 9 to 12, 2027. The event will include a Formula 1 Sprint race for the first time, held on Saturday with no mandatory pit stops. Yas Marina becomes one of 10 venues hosting a Sprint that season.
The Sprint race will be contested over 100 kilometers, with eight championship points on offer to the winner. Combined with the 25 points for the main Grand Prix, 33 points will be up for grabs across the Abu Dhabi weekend.
Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said the company had reached an agreement with Formula 1 to bring the Sprint format to the event. He said the 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."
The Sprint format was first introduced in 2021 and has proven popular with fans. Tracks are chosen to host a Sprint based on their high overtaking potential, encouraging aggressive racing over the 30 minutes it takes to complete the 100 kilometer distance.
How does the Abu Dhabi race weekend change?
The addition of the Sprint means competitive action at Yas Marina will now begin on Friday. Sprint qualifying will replace what was Free Practice 2. The Sprint race itself will replace Free Practice 3 on Saturday.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix will follow later that day as usual, setting the grid for Sunday's season ending race.
David Powell, Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer at Ethara, said the change raises the bar on the fan experience. He said the event would offer "an unbeatable package worthy of the F1 season finale," combining more competitive racing with the Yasalam entertainment program and destination experiences.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026?
Attention now turns to this year's event. The 2026 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 18th edition of the race, is scheduled for December 3 to 6.
Organizers say ticket availability is limited, with fans urged to book via abudhabigp.com. Supporters can also pre-register on the same site to be notified when 2027 tickets go on sale.
The 2025 edition drew a record attendance of 339,000.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket inclusions provide complimentary access to a number of the emirate's attractions. These include Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena and Qasr Al Watan.
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