2026 Formula 1 Championship Grand Prix schedule

Anticipation is building as the 2026 FIA F1 World Championship season approaches. In mid-February, 11 Formula 1 teams and 22 drivers got their first chance to show their new cars to the public, and to other teams, during two test sessions in Bahrain. The first session runs from February 11-13 and the second test runs from February 18-20. The Australian Grand Prix kicks off the 2026 season on March 6-8 at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. As in recent years, there are 24 Grands Prix on the 2026 schedule, which starts in Melbourne and ends December 4-6 in Abu Dahbi.

This year six of the 24 Grand Prix events will follow the Sprint race format. The Sprint is an additional, shorter race, which was first added in 2021 to add excitement to the fans. A typical Grand Prix event lasts three days with two practice sessions on the first day, a third practice session and a qualifying race to determine the Grand Prix starting positions on the second day, and the Grand Prix itself on the third day. In the Sprint format, the first day includes a free practice session and a Sprint qualifying event. The second day includes the Sprint race and the Grand Prix qualifying event. The Grand Prix is ​​on the third day. Race events for this year’s Sprint format, as noted in the calendar below, will be held in Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, and Singapore.

2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix schedule

New rules and regulations will challenge F1 drivers and engineers

F1 teams work hard to improve the performance of their cars each season, and for that matter, during every race. However, 2026 brings a much greater challenge (or opportunity) than usual, because it is the first year of a new generation of small racing cars, which use a different power unit setup, and, for the first time, must run on biofuel. I will cover the changes to the FIA ​​F1 Rules and Regulations for cars and the new FIA competition rules in the following articles before the Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The changes in the technical and driving rules, the latter called “sporting rules” and FIA rules, have two main objectives: to increase the chances of cars to pass, or pass, other racing cars and to improve the sustainability of F1. Many Grand Prix qualifiers have few points where overtaking is possible, especially circuits like Monaco and Azerbaijan which are run on the city’s oldest roads. The new cars will be smaller and have smaller wheels than the previous generation. The power units of the previous generation were hybrid, with combustion engines and electric motors with batteries. New generation vehicles will continue to have two power sources, but with a higher percentage of power coming from electric motors.

Eleven teams on the starting grid for 2026 F1 feature the new Cadillac. When the FIA ​​finally decided to allow Cadillac to enter the team, one of the requirements was that Cadillac be the engine supplier, providing power trains and upgrades to other teams, as Mercedes and Ferrari have done in the past. Cadillac has until 2028 to upgrade their engines. This year they will run with engines supplied by Ferrari.

Two team and power unit changes are notable for 2026. Audi now carries engines from the former Sauber team. Red Bull has ended its relationship with Honda and is now developing power units with Ford. Red Bull Ford will power both of its teams: Racing Bulls and Racing Bulls.

Speculation and questions about which drivers are likely to win the 2026 Championship will start at the start of the season, but right now, the primary interest will be where the teams get with the new rules and specifications.