Starting in the 2027 season, MotoGP grand prix weekends will feature two distinct qualifying sessions and separate starting grids for both the Saturday Sprint and the Sunday Grand Prix, bringing the championship’s scheduling closer to Formula 1. Teams formally approved the major format overhaul during a vote at the Red Bull Ring, moving away from a single qualifying session that previously set the order for both races, according to reporting by Motorsport.
Red Bull Ring Vote Seals 2027 Schedule Overhaul
The revised weekend structure alters track time across all three days of competition. Under the new regulations detailed by ANSA, Friday afternoons will introduce a dedicated 15-minute qualifying session open to all riders to determine the grid specifically for the Saturday afternoon Sprint race. This replaces the traditional Friday practice structure that previously dictated direct advancement to Q2.
Track action on Friday will now consist of a 45-minute Free Practice 1 (FP1) session in the morning, followed by a 30-minute Free Practice 2 (FP2) session that carries no qualifying weight for subsequent sessions. The newly minted Sprint Qualifying session then caps off the first day on track. For Saturday, teams will run a 20-minute Free Practice 3 (FP3) session before heading directly into a two-part qualifying format for Sunday’s main Grand Prix. All riders will contest Q1 for 15 minutes, with the 12 fastest advancing to Q2 to battle for pole position.
Elimination of Sunday Morning Warm-Up Sessions
Sunday schedules will also drop the traditional morning warm-up for the MotoGP class, aligning the premier division with Moto2 and Moto3. To compensate for the lost morning session and allow teams to verify bike functions, race organizers will open the pit lane for a strict 10-minute window prior to the main Grand Prix.
Significant Reductions in Total Practice Time
The total time allocated for practice sessions will decrease significantly by 50 minutes under the 2027 schedule. This reduction accounts for 30 fewer minutes on Friday, 10 fewer minutes on Saturday, and the complete removal of the Sunday morning warm-up session. These scheduling updates coincide with broader technical changes arriving in 2027, which introduce smaller 850cc engine displacements alongside modifications to aerodynamics, vehicle weight, and ride height devices. Initially, organizers evaluated dividing Saturday qualifying into three separate segments mirroring Formula 1’s Q1, Q2, and Q3 structure, but that proposal was ultimately rejected during the vote at Spielberg.
More on Free Practice
Worth a look
