MotoGP: The New Format Resembles Formula 1—Here’s What the Teams Have to Say

Liberty Media has decided to bring MotoGP closer to Formula 1 by introducing a new race weekend format starting in 2027. The main change concerns qualifying, which will no longer be valid for both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, explained that the change aims to further distinguish the two competitions. Currently in Formula 1, Sprint qualifying takes place on Friday, while qualifying for the main race is held on Saturday.

For MotoGP, however, a schedule with two qualifying sessions on Saturday is being considered—one dedicated to the Sprint and the other to the Grand Prix. Only the twelve fastest riders would advance to the first session, while the second session would retain the current system with Q1 and Q2.

The proposal also calls for a revision of Friday practice sessions, which could be used exclusively to prepare the bikes without determining direct access to Q2. This would give riders greater freedom to work on their setups and reduce the pressure to set a fast lap.

The new format is still under evaluation and will need to be discussed with teams and riders before its potential introduction in 2027.