Overview
- The official 2026 schedule features 24 Grands Prix opening March 6–8 in Australia and closing December 4–6 in Abu Dhabi, with Madrid debuting September 11–13 and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia moved to April to avoid Ramadan.
- Teams roll into launch season through February, with announced unveilings including Haas (Jan 19), Audi (Jan 20), Mercedes (Jan 22), Alpine and Ferrari (Jan 23), Williams (Feb 3), Cadillac (Feb 8 during Super Bowl week), and Aston Martin and McLaren (Feb 9).
- Valtteri Bottas carries a five-place grid penalty from a 2024 Abu Dhabi collision that is slated to be served at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, as Cadillac works to persuade officials not to enforce it despite the sanction predating new expiry rules.
- Imola has begun works to expand its paddock, build a new ‘Casa degli Eventi’ VIP facility at Tosa, and replace a narrow bridge to improve access, aiming to meet Liberty Media expectations and strengthen its case for a future calendar return.
- F1 president Stefano Domenicali says Ferrari “have a plan” for 2026, while driver-market talk continues with Fernando Alonso entering a contract year and a former Aston Martin figure speculating that Max Verstappen could be targeted if Alonso retires.