Here is the thing about change in the paddock: someone always has to own it. As Motorsport.com reports, MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta has made it clear that the upcoming overhaul of the grand prix weekend format, slated for introduction in 2027, was actually driven by the teams themselves rather than forced from the top down.
The Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) confirmed this latest restructuring on a Wednesday, following earlier revelations during the Austrian Grand Prix. Ever since sprint races made their debut in 2023, a single Saturday morning qualifying session has set the starting grids for both the Saturday sprint and the grand prix on Sunday. That routine is officially coming to an end.
A new type of executive profile is coming in. They are very clear about the direction we need to take, and they have no doubts about it,
From 2027, the schedule shifts significantly. Friday morning kicks off with a 45-minute first practice session (FP1), followed by a 30-minute second practice session (FP2). Then comes the big addition: a 15-minute sprint qualifying session on Friday afternoon featuring every rider on the grid. While Saturday stays largely untouched save for a minor renaming of its morning practice session, Sunday loses its warm-up entirely.
Unsurprisingly, riders have greeted the news with skepticism and resistance, arguing that an intense Friday leaves them exposed to greater risk with less breathing room. But according to the championship's promoters at MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, the initiative came straight from the garages. “This change is an initiative that came from the teams. They were the ones who came to us and said they believed it could be improved,” Carlos Ezpeleta explains.
There is a very practical machine-driven reason behind the push, too. With a new generation of 850cc engines arriving, manufacturers were eager to curb component wear. Ezpeleta points out that total track time shrinks by 35 minutes once you factor in the dropped warm-up, fulfilling a direct manufacturer request to cut down on accumulated mileage while also starting Fridays slightly later.
Ezpeleta views this evolution as a natural reflection of shifting leadership styles within the paddock, highlighting a new wave of executives stepping into the championship. Among them is Guenther Steiner, who took charge of the group acquiring Tech 3 at the end of 2025 after his years running the Haas Formula 1 operation.
“A new type of executive profile is coming in. They are very clear about the direction we need to take, and they have no doubts about it,” Ezpeleta concludes.
