From the completion of F1’s latest circuit, to calendar expansions, an elevated variety of Dash occasions and ever-growing attendance figures. Listed below are the Method 1 calendar tales that would dominate the headlines in 2026.
Will Madrid’s New Circuit Be Prepared in Time?
There have been loads of headlines just lately concerning the standing of the brand new Madring circuit in Madrid, which is about to turn into host of the Spanish Grand Prix in 2026. Work on the observe started in June 2025 however rumours persist that the observe will not be prepared in time for its September debut.
The brand new Madrid circuit is because of be accomplished on the finish of Could 2026. If work is delayed for any cause, it’s possible that F1 may change plans and host a race at one other European venue in mid-September, with sufficient time to place tickets on sale and put the mandatory plans in place.
In the summertime, Stefano Domenicali reportedly instructed Italian media that Imola – host of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from 2020 to 2025, which missed out on a spot on the 2026 calendar – is the “first reserve” ought to any venue be unable to fulfil its dedication in 2026. Whether or not or not the Italian observe might want to fulfil that responsibility, or whether or not the rumours have been blown out of proportion, will turn into clearer within the coming months.
Will New Races Be Introduced For 2028?
A considerably stunning addition to the calendar was introduced in December 2025. The Portuguese Grand Prix, final held on the Portimao circuit within the coronavirus-hit 2020 and 2021 seasons, will return as a part of a two 12 months deal masking 2027 and 2028.
And it could possibly be the primary of a number of new race contracts to be introduced within the subsequent twelve months. Most venues are signed up till a minimum of 2028 however there are nonetheless a number of slots out there on that 12 months’s calendar.
Thailand and a race on the African continent look the more than likely to affix the schedule earlier than the top of the present decade, each mooted to make 2028 debuts. A race someplace in Africa has been a long-held ambition for Method 1 bosses, with three African nations believed to have severe curiosity in bringing the game to their a part of the continent. South Africa – and a return for Kyalami for the primary time since 1993 – has been the frontrunner all through, however additional hypothesis suggests Cape City is one other viable choice. Rwanda and Morocco – the place F1 final raced in 1958 – are believed to be different potential host nations for the game’s return to Africa.
Elsewhere, Thailand can also be nonetheless a probable vacation spot for Method 1 within the coming years. Stefano Domenicali has had a number of assembly with earlier authorities leaders – although the most recent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is but to publicly touch upon plans to carry the game to the nation. Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok, concerned within the design of the potential Thai Grand Prix observe, admitted in a latest look on The Quick and The Curious podcast that the undertaking is “barely on pause” because of the change in authorities.
Lately, bulletins about new races have come lengthy over a 12 months earlier than the occasion made its inaugural calendar look. If it’s the case that both Thailand or Africa can be part of the 2028 calendar, count on to listen to official information about it in some unspecified time in the future in 2026.
What’s Occurring With F1’s Rotational Races?
It has been a 12 months since Method 1 introduced that the Belgian Grand Prix will seem on the calendar on a rotational foundation from 2028 onwards – however we’re but to listen to any extra concerning the sport’s plans for rotational rounds to turn into part of the calendar.
Maybe one choice, given the latest announcement of Portugal’s addition to the calendar is that the Portuguese Grand Prix will seem on the schedule within the seasons that the Belgian Grand Prix doesn’t (2028 and 2030), and that Portimao’s preliminary two-year contract is to check the waters when it comes to fan curiosity in attending, on condition that earlier races on the observe had been held with coronavirus attendance restrictions in place.
Another choice could possibly be for Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, dwelling of the Spanish Grand Prix from 1991 to 2025, to take the slot in these two seasons. Latest Spanish media reviews suggests that’s the case, with the Catalunya observe tipped to signal a take care of Method 1 to proceed internet hosting the Barcelona Grand Prix on the venue in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
With most races signed as much as the early a part of the following decade and calendar slots restricted, it appears unlikely that many extra rotational offers can be introduced past the present Spa setup.
Which Race Will Take The Vacant 2027 Calendar Slot?
With Portugal rejoining the scene, 23 of the 24 out there slots on the 2027 Method 1 calendar are already crammed. There stays a slot out there because of the departure of Zandvoort, host of the Dutch Grand Prix, which makes its remaining look in 2026.
So, which occasion takes the ultimate place? The one circuit on the calendar in 2026 and not using a contract for 2027 is Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. After spending 35 years as dwelling of the Spanish Grand Prix, the observe turns into host of the Barcelona Grand Prix in 2026, whereas the all-new Madring in Madrid takes over as host of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Catalunya’s annual continuation on the calendar appears unlikely, on condition that Imola missed out on a slot in 2026 as Method 1 not wished to have two races in the identical nation, United States apart. The truth that a Portuguese Grand Prix – in Spain’s neighbouring nation – has now been added for 2027 makes it much more unlikely that racing in Barcelona will proceed yearly and a rotational deal for the Barcelona observe as talked about above appears far more possible.
If not Catalunya, then occasions that would step in appear few and much between. A circuit with FIA Grade 1 standing is required. The obvious selections could be occasions which have beforehand hosted races – the likes of Sepang Worldwide Circuit in Malaysia or, extra seemingly, Istanbul Park in Turkey.
Circuit bosses in Istanbul talked up their possibilities of a everlasting return to the calendar over the summer time and are understood to be in pole place to take a vacant calendar slot. A five-year deal is believed to be in attain, if organisers make needed upgrades to the circuit and its infrastructure, which might require monetary enter from the native authorities.
In fact, there’s no assure that the 2027 calendar will stretch past the 23 already-announced races. Which leads us on to our subsequent level…
Will the Variety of Sprints Enhance in 2027?
F1 is eager to extend the variety of Dash races throughout a season from six to 10. Assist for an expanded Dash calendar has grown, with competitors between venues for the prospect to host the Dash format having heated up.
The concept of increasing the Dash calendar requires approval from FOM, the FIA and the 11 groups. The groups proved onerous to persuade when F1 wished to extend the variety of dash races from three to 6 in 2022 however later agreed – amid a number of format tweaks to the race weekend setup – for 2023.
May lowering the variety of Grands Prix in 2027 to 23 be a strategy to appease the groups and get them to conform to a rise within the variety of Dash occasions on the calendar? Time will inform.
Will the Most Variety of Races Enhance to 25?
Speaking of an growing variety of Dash occasions, the utmost variety of Grand Prix weekends per season is presently fastened at 24 – however there’s some scope for the determine to be elevated to 25, regardless of issues from members of the paddock that the present 24 is already on the restrict.
Stefano Domenicali stated that curiosity in internet hosting F1 races was greater than ever and it appears that evidently there are way over 25 venues taken with showing on the schedule. Way back to 2022, F1 marketed a job through which one of many roles was to execute the “enterprise technique of rising the long run race calendar to as much as 25 races”. Will 2026 be the 12 months that the plans lastly get approval – or is it a step too far?
What Subsequent For Las Vegas?
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will make its fourth look in 2026 – and it’s honest to say that the occasion has not precisely turn into F1’s gold normal occasion in its first three years on the calendar. The Vegas race has fallen wanting the dazzling spectacle it was hyped as much as be when it first joined the calendar in 2023. Attendance dropped between the inaugural occasion and 2024, whereas no official determine has been introduced for 2025; maybe suggesting that attendance fell additional.
Below the radar earlier in 2025, the contract for the race was reportedly prolonged by two seasons by to 2027 – although no official affirmation got here from Method 1. The Vegas race differs from different occasions on the calendar, as F1 itself acts because the promoter – therefore why there was loads of seen promotion for the remaining out there tickets within the run as much as the 2025 race, each on-line and trackside at different races.
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is able to producing entertaining races and the occasion stays a serious industrial draw for Method 1. Nevertheless, it stays within the sport’s finest pursuits to raised refine the stability between present and substance, whereas additionally making the occasion as accessible as potential to race-going followers. Now coming into its fourth season, the novelty of getting a race in Vegas has inevitably worn off and the occasion must justify its long-term place on the schedule.
Has F1 Attendance Reached Its Peak?
It appears to be a query that we ask yearly – however yearly the figures proceed to develop. Method 1’s general attendance in 2025 was 6.7 million, a rise of 200,000 on the 2024 determine. 19 occasions offered out, with 11 setting new attendance information.
The massive query is whether or not F1 has reached its attendance ceiling. Circuit capacities – even with varied expansions having been carried out – will stop the general annual attendance determine from rising a lot greater, although the brand new Madring circuit, which primarily replaces Imola, has greater capability than the Italian observe, so that would assist the determine develop, if the Madrid occasion is well-attended.
And an fascinating apart is whether or not or not the British Grand Prix will set an all-time attendance file in 2026. The 2025 Silverstone race weekend had a complete 4-day attendance of 500,000 – simply 20,000 shy of the all-time file set on the 1995 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. With Britain having topped its latest World Champion – and the grandstand named in his honour having been expanded for 2026 – it’s totally potential that attendance on the British Grand Prix can be greater in 2026 than 2025.
