F1 2026 Calendar Revealed: Madrid Joins, Imola Dropped, Season Opens in Australia

 

Formula 1 has unveiled its 2026 race calendar, confirming major changes as the sport enters a new era of hybrid engines and sustainable fuel.

The 24-round schedule kicks off on March 8 in Melbourne, Australia, followed by Shanghai, which returns after a hiatus, and Japan as a standalone race on March 29. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be held in April, pushed back to accommodate Ramadan.

The biggest shake-up comes in Spain: Madrid will host a brand-new street race on September 13, while Barcelona continues one final year on June 14, ending its run as the designated Spanish Grand Prix. Imola, however, has been dropped altogether.

Monaco will be the first European stop on June 7, with Zandvoort hosting a confirmed sprint race on August 23. The season wraps up on December 6 in Abu Dhabi after back-to-back races in Las Vegas and Qatar.

To boost sustainability, the calendar has been structured for better regional flow, cutting down on freight emissions. It includes six back-to-back weekends and two triple-headers:

Austin–Mexico–Brazil

Las Vegas–Qatar–Abu Dhabi

Key entries:

Canada moves to May 24, overlapping with the Indy 500

Audi (via Sauber), Ford (with Red Bull), and Cadillac (new 11th team) all join the grid

The new engine rules and 100% sustainable fuel debut in 2026

Full details on sprint weekends and format changes are expected soon.

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ON THIS DAY: June 10, 2023 🗓️

Manchester City made history by winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completing a stunning continental treble:

🏆 Premier League

🏆 FA Cup

🏆 Champions League (1–0 vs Inter Milan)

From Third Tier to Treble Kings 🔵👑

In 1999, while Manchester United were conquering Europe with the first English treble, Manchester City were battling in England’s third division.

Fast forward 24 years, and the roles were reversed. City completed the second-ever English treble, a testament to their remarkable rise and dominance under Pep Guardiola.