The Formula 1 calendar for 2027, presented this Wednesday (16), brought an unusual combination: despite maintaining a heavy season, with 24 weekends and ten stages in the Sprint format, the schedule left room for drivers to consider other major motorsport races.
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This happens because, next year, none of the main races that usually compete for space with F1 will have date conflicts. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring will be held between May 27 and 30, while the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 30. Then, the 24 Hours of Le Mans are scheduled for June 9 to 13, and the 24 Hours of Spa will be contested from June 24 to 27.
The Formula 1 stages themselves leave these dates free. The Canadian GP, in Montreal, will be held from May 20 to 23; Monaco takes place between June 4 and 6; and the Portuguese GP, in Portimão, is scheduled for June 18 to 20.
For some drivers, the configuration may represent an opportunity that rarely appears on the F1 calendar. Many names on the grid have already shown interest in competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but have not always found space in their schedule for it. However, it is not yet defined what the current drivers’ contracts allow regarding participation in other categories and competitions.
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Max Verstappen is one of the drivers who increasingly has contact with other disciplines. Currently, the four-time world champion is involved with his GT team, Verstappen Racing. Lando Norris also conducted a test this week in the MCL-HY, McLaren’s car for Le Mans.
The absence of conflicts in 2027 draws attention precisely because this is rare in such a busy period of the calendar. In 2021, for example, the Indianapolis 500 was held without an F1 stage on the same day, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans also did not coincide with a GP. Nürburgring, on the other hand, took place on the same date as the Azerbaijan GP, in Baku.
In 2020, the situation was similar. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring coincided with the Russian GP, in Sochi, while the Portuguese GP, in Portimão, was scheduled for the same period as the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
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