F1 reveals 2025 Sprint race schedule with Spa back in the mix

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Formula 1 has tweaked its 2025 sprint calendar, bringing back the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit for a Saturday showdown and waving goodbye to the Austrian Grand Prix's sprint event.

Fans will be treated to five familiar favorites alongside the returning Belgian thriller, which will equate, like this year, to six Sprint events overall in 2025.

China and Miami retain their Sprint slots, just like in 2024, while the US and Brazilian Grands Prix weekends will once again be amplified with Saturday races, along with Qatar.

Austria, however, says "auf Wiedersehen" to its 30-minute mad dash event in Spielberg after three seasons. While it was one of the first to embrace the concept in 2022, Spa's legendary sweeping toboggan will feature once again on the docket.

Read also: Engine manufacturers warn FIA against tweaking 2026 regs

The decision to stick with sprints appears to be a winning one, with F1 reporting a rise in viewership for these action-packed weekends compared to the traditional three-practice format.

The current format, where the sprint race precedes qualifying on Saturday, is set to continue after successful tweaks in 2024.

This year’s adjustments allowed teams crucial setup flexibility without penalizing drivers between sprint races and the main grand prix event when everyone was locked into parc fermé conditions.

The calendar shuffle also spreads things out strategically. China and Miami's sprints are no longer back-to-back headaches for teams, and the post-summer break sprints are nicely spaced for travel and regrouping.

The sport's evolution continues to embrace innovation, enhancing the thrill and spectacle for drivers, teams, and fans alike.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.