Carlos Sainz believes that the Formula 1 calendar is reaching its limits. The Williams driver sees the number of races increasing and fears that the sport will lose its exclusivity as a result. According to the Spaniard, the calendar should look more like that of the UEFA Champions League. “The risk is that fans will soon no longer mind missing a race,” he concludes.
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Next season, the F1 calendar will again feature 24 races, six of which include a sprint race. Since 2024, this many sprint events have been held, but F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is in talks to double that number from 2027.
‘Not the end of the world’
Carlos Sainz fears that an overcrowded calendar will make fans not mind missing a race. That is why he refers to the Champions League, where the exclusivity of the various matches is guaranteed. “A match is great to watch because you don’t see it every week. Formula 1 must also maintain that feeling. Many races are fun, but if you miss one, it’s not the end of the world,” the Williams driver says in an interview with Cadena SER. In addition, he points to the heavy burden on drivers. “The season ended in mid-December and on January 5th I was already training again. There is hardly any time to rest. Still, I feel well prepared and I am satisfied,” he assured.
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‘The limit’
To ensure that there are no more races, the Spaniard is in constant contact with the bosses of Formula 1. He himself started with 19 races in 2015, although the calendar has since expanded to 24 Grands Prix per year. “I don’t think there will be fewer races, but not many more either,” he continued. “In my conversations with the organization, I keep asking them if it’s not getting out of hand. It’s not that they promised me anything, but it seems that 24 Grands Prix is the limit. I hope that they don’t go much above that,” said Sainz.
Still, the planning continues to change. From 2027, there will no longer be racing in Zandvoort, meaning Portugal – Portimão – will return to the calendar. Furthermore, Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona will alternate. Formula 1 plans to have 14 permanent circuits and 20 alternating locations, so that the number of races always remains at a maximum of 24 weekends.
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View the 2026 F1 calendar here
