Montreal, Zandvoort, Singapore to Host F1 Sprints for First Time 

07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
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Montreal, Zandvoort, Singapore to Host F1 Sprints for First Time 

07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 
07 September 2025, Italy, Monza: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren takes the lead on lap 2 during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit. (dpa) 

The Canadian, Dutch and Singapore Grands Prix will become Formula One sprint weekends for the first time next season on a list of six hosts announced by the sport on Tuesday.

The three venues join Shanghai, Miami and Silverstone for a format which sees a 100km race on Saturday, paying points to the top eight finishers, before the main grand prix is held on Sunday.

Shanghai and Miami will be sprint hosts for a third successive year while the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last hosted one in 2021, the season when sprints were introduced.

Brazil's Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, which has been a sprint weekend since 2021, reverts to the traditional format as do this year's other sprints in Belgium, the US Grand Prix in Austin and Qatar.

Dutch Grand Prix venue Zandvoort, a home race for Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen, is due to drop off the calendar after next year and the sprint element had already been announced.

Singapore's inclusion is a surprise, with the night race offering few overtaking opportunities on the city streets.

"The F1 Sprint has continued to grow in positive impact and popularity since it was introduced in 2021," said Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali in a statement.

"With four competitive sessions rather than two during a conventional Grand Prix weekend, F1 Sprint events offer more action each day for our fans, broadcast partners and for the promoters -- driving increased attendance and viewership.

"The 2026 season will usher in a new era of regulations, so having three new Sprint venues will only add to the drama on track."

TELEVISION VIEWERSHIP BOOSTED BY SPRINT WEEKENDS

Formula One said television viewership for sprint weekends, which feature qualifying on Friday instead of a second practice session, in 2024 was on average 10% greater than those without the Saturday race.

It added that the first three sprint weekends of 2025 had continued the upward trend, with Lewis Hamilton's Saturday victory for Ferrari in Shanghai producing an 84% live TV audience increase across the 15 top markets.

Some 26.6 million television viewers watched McLaren's Lando Norris win the Miami Grand Prix sprint, 18% more than the 2024 figure.

Verstappen's sprint win for Red Bull in Belgium drew a significantly higher audience compared to the 2024 European event, with China up 182%.

Formula One is entering a new engine era next year with significant regulation changes, putting a burden on teams, but the sport is considering adding more sprints to the calendar from 2027 and also changing the format.

That could see the number eventually doubled to 12, with reverse grids and other changes to be discussed by teams, drivers and stakeholders as the sport seeks to drive fan engagement and boost growth.

"We need to discuss the formats for the next few years," Domenicali told Italian reporters recently. "Everyone wants more sprint races instead of Friday free practice.

"Having them every weekend, like MotoGP does, is too big a step, but that doesn't mean we can't ... at least approach the weekends differently."

The 24-round 2026 F1 calendar was published in June.



Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Sergio Perez drove a Formula One car for the first time in almost a year on Thursday with the Mexican testing for Cadillac at Italy's Imola circuit in a 2023 Ferrari.

Cadillac do not have a previous car of their own but will be using Ferrari engines when they debut next season as Formula One's 11th team, with a lineup of Perez and Finland's Valtteri Bottas.

Photos published online showed an all-black car running unbranded at the circuit.

Perez wore black overalls and helmet.

The Mexican told Reuters earlier in the week that the session, his first since his last race for Red Bull in December 2024, was important for the team to practice procedures, refine the simulator and prepare for future race weekends.

"It's basically just a time for us to be able to get together with the engineers, mechanics, start working all together, you know, start talking the same language," said the experienced Mexican.

"I'm curious, you know, to find out how many laps my neck will do before it gets destroyed," he added with a smile. "But it's great, you know. It's a great test and a great way to finish the year before getting back in the car next year."

Bottas, also 35 and a multiple race winner, has also had a year away from racing after leaving Sauber but is currently Mercedes reserve and attending grands prix.


Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Turkish soccer temporarily banned 102 top-tier club players on Thursday over a widening betting scandal.

The Turkish Football Federation suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the second-tier first division for terms ranging from 45 days to one year.

Galatasaray and Türkiye defender Eren Elmali was suspended for 45 days. Club teammate and Türkiye Under-21 center back Metehan Baltaci was suspended for nine months. Konyaspor and Senegal winger Alassane Ndao received a 12-month suspension.

Elmali posted on Instagram this week that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year, The AP news reported.

Baltacı also admitted past bets but insisted they were not games he played in.

“Years ago I placed a bet at a time when I couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the matter," he said. “I want to make it clear that this action had nothing to do with matches played by the teams I represented.”

The bans apply to matches but the players can continue training, Haberturk television reported.

More than 1,000 players have been referred to the federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board in the ongoing investigation.

The federation has shut down the third- and fourth-tier divisions for two weeks but allowed the Super Lig — led by defending champion Galatasaray — and second tier to continue.

Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu vowed this week to cleanse Turkish soccer from corruption, scandal and unethical practices.

“We took office 16 months ago with a promise to elevate Turkish football to the level it deserves," he said. “We will not compromise in our fight to protect Turkish football from scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.”

Turkish soccer has been rocked by investigations into alleged widespread betting by referees, and now players, on games which is prohibited by FIFA.

More than 150 referees are alleged to have bet on games, including seven who are approved to handle top-level games and 15 top-level assistants.

The scandal is a setback to Turkish soccer's revival in recent years.

The country will co-host the men’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the national team reached the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, and Istanbul has been picked by UEFA to stage several finals in European club competitions.


Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
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Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer

Al Sadd have appointed former Inter Milan and Italy boss Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-season deal, the Qatari club announced on Thursday.

Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, who sit sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-toppers Al-Gharafa, according to Reuters.

His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008.

He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign.

Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.