Iconic Imola axed as F1 2026 calendar confirmed with brand new Grand Prix circuit added and host of major new rules

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

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FORMULA ONE has revealed the full calendar for the 2026 season as a new dawn beckons for the motorsport.
Next season represents the biggest F1 regulation update for a generation, with new-look cars and 100 per cent sustainable fuels coming into play.
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The 2026 F1 Calendar has been revealed
Credit: Getty
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The Canadian Grand Prix has been moved to its earliest ever date and will clash with another legendary motorsport event
Credit: Getty
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While the iconic Imola circuit has been ditched from F1
Credit: Alamy
And a calendar with its own first-time feature in mind has been revealed to match this new era, which will see the season start in Australia once again, this time on March 8.
With Ramadan happening across February and March next year, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will host races in April.
The first six races of 2026 will be the same order as 2025, before the end of Spring sees many of the major changes to the calendar.
Firstly, the iconic Imola Grand Prix has been axed after Max Verstappen won the race this year.
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However, as part of F1's commitment to Net Zero, the calendar has moved pieces around to improve freight efficiencies.
That will see the Canadian Grand Prix, which traditionally takes place in June, commence at its earliest stage in history in May, right after the Miami Grand Prix.
Montreal is already well known for its tumultuous weather, and F1 bosses have been warned the colder and wetter weather at the earlier date may impact the race and build-up.
This move will also see it directly clash with the iconic Indianapolis 500 - one of the fabled Triple Crown events alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hours.
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The North American double-bill gives way to the European season, starting out with Monaco on a new date in early June - the last time the race weekend took place in summer was 2000.
Spain's Barcelona circuit will follow before the remainder of races going up to the summer shutdown, including Great Britain and Belgium, all remain in the same order as 2025.
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The Dutch Grand Prix, the home race of reigning world champion Verstappen, will - with or without him after he was tipped to quit F1 - resume the season following the break on August 23.
The Temple of Speed at Italy's Monza circuit will follow two weeks later, before the brand new Madrid Grand Prix will take its place on the calendar on September 13.
Dubbed the "Madring", the hybrid street circuit will be on the F1 calendar for the next 10 years.
Fans have already been given a first look at how the track will look from a driver's perspective, though many were not impressed with the "soulless" 3.3-mile-long circuit.
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It is the first time Madrid will host an F1 race since the Jarama circuit did in 1981, with this new track running past the training centre of Real Madrid.
F1 returns to Asia for gruelling races in Azerbaijan and Singapore on September 27 and October 11.
The season will then end with a pair of triple headers, firstly going from Austin, Texas, United States, over the border to Mexico and then down to Brazil between October 25 and November 8.
Las Vegas on November 21 kicks off the final stretch of the 24-race season.
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It will be followed by Qatar on November 29 before the season draws to a close at Abu Dhabi on December 6.
With the new regulations seeing a complete overhaul of the car chassis, aerodynamics and engines, who the front-runners will be next season is a complete unknown.
Next year will also see the introduction of an 11th F1 team, Cadillac, alongside General Motors, while Ford joins the list of engine suppliers, Honda makes a return to F1 after five years away, and Audi takes over the Sauber operation.
F1 president, Stefano Domenicali, said: '2026 will be a new era for F1 where we will witness a brand new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100 per cent sustainable fuel.
'We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the F1 grid.
'It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel-to-wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe."