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The 2026 Formula 1 season will move another step closer tomorrow as the first test session begins at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The championship will look very different this year: new chassis rules mean the cars will be smaller and new power unit rules are expected to drastically alter the racing. On top of that, the grid has grown to 22 cars and a new venue – the Madring in Spain – will replace Imola in Italy.
As in the previous two seasons, 24 grands prix are planned plus six sprint races. However the venues for many of the latter events have changed: Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore will all host sprint events, in addition to Shanghai and Miami which did so last year.
The championship will open in Melbourne in March, followed one week later by the first sprint event of the season in China. The season will follow a familiar pattern until the first European round, which this year will be Monaco instead of Imola, F1’s visit to the Principality coming a week later than last season. That will be followed by the first of two races in Spain, the second being F1’s first visit to a new street circuit in Madrid. Singapore will host the final sprint event of the season, which will close with half-a-dozen traditional grands prix.
On the driver side, Arvid Lindblad arrives, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas return while Yuki Tsunoda bids a sad farewell.
Have the off-season changes to the competition affected your interest in the upcoming F1 season? Do you plan to watch every minute of racing action, or would you prefer to skip some of the 30 races?
Join in this weekend’s poll below and have your say in the comments.
You say
How many grands prix do you intend to watch in 2026 (live or highlights)?
1-8 (0%)
9-16 (0%)
17-23 (43%)
All 24 (43%)
Total Voters: 7
How many sprint races do you intend to watch in 2026 (live or highlights)?
1 (0%)
2 (14%)
3 (0%)
4 (0%)
5 (0%)
All 6 (43%)
Total Voters: 7
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