Fans React As F1 Calendar Confirmed For 2026 With Madrid Grand Prix To Make Debut 221l5b

The F1 2026 calendar has been confirmed, with the new Madrid Grand Prix set to replace Imola in the schedule.

Next year’s calendar sees a few tweaks and changes, but the biggest is the removal of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in Italy.

In its place, Spain will get a second Formula 1 race, with the Madrid Grand Prix ing the schedule.

Held from 11-13 September, the Madrid race ensures next season’s calendar remains 24 races long.

Other tweaks include the shift of the Canadian Grand Prix. That race will now be 22-24 June, in the slot usually filled by Monaco, which moves to 5-7 June.

That switch means that Canada comes after Miami, saving teams great expense in transporting equipment and helping to reduce the sport’s carbon emissions.

Save the date 🔒

Presenting the 2026 Calendar 🗓️

24 races across the world to crown our champion 🏆#F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/4xe7e8MPM6

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 10, 2025

Fans React To New F1 2026 Calendar 5x1p47

But while Formula 1 bosses are keen to highlight the positives of this new 2026 F1 calendar, not everyone is happy.

The Emilia Romagna GP‘s removal from the schedule has angered many fans, who have made their views clear.

One Twitter (now X) posted: “Removing Imola is just stupid and shows again how much of this is just business and not pure racing!!”

Another added: “Losing Imola is bad for the sport.”

While a third simply said: “RIP Imola.”

With so many fans gutted at the prospect of losing Imola, it begs the question – why is F1 dropping Imola from the calendar?

Why Is F1 Dropping The Imola Grand Prix? 6a2j5a

In 2025, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola saw record crowds, with 242,00o in attendance.

But the race was always next in line to be axed as the sport grows its global audience.

Imola returned after 14 years away from F1 in 2020, with organisers keen on European venues with fewer travel restrictions during the covid-19 pandemic.

F1 chairman Stefano Domenicali is an Imola native, and was keen to keep the race in the schedule.

But the current F1 contract mandates a maximum of 25 races. And it is generally agreed that 24 is an ideal compromise between expansion and managing work-load on teams.

With new global markets to expand into, having multiple races in one European country was never going to last.

Next year’s calendar will see two races in Spain, but only due to Barcelona’s contract running until 2026, with Madrid set to replace it long-term.

IMOLA YOU WILL BE MISSED ❤️ pic.twitter.com/T1ptta3fha

— sim (@simsgazette) June 10, 2025

Formula 1 Looking To Expand Calendar To New Venues 63q6g

Imola isn’t the only European race under threat. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will host its last race next year, having only returned to the schedule in 2021.

And the iconic Spa in Belgium will start a new contract in 2026. That agreement will see the Belgian Grand Prix rotated in and out of the calendar.

There is big demand for a Thailand Grand Prix to be held in Bangkok, as well as a desire to host races in Africa.

But finding a venue for an African race is proving very difficult.

South Africa seems the most likely destination, though Morocco and Rwanda have also been discussed.

American races continue to draw big investment, with General Motors’ engine officially approved by the FIA ahead of their 2029 Formula 1 entry.

2026 F1 2026 Calendar In Full 6k1327

• Australia – 6-8 March
• China – 13-15 March
• Japan – 27-29 March
• Bahrain – 10-12 April
• Saudi Arabia – 17-19 April
• Miami – 1-3 May
• Canada – 22-24 May
• Monaco – 5-7 June
• Spain (Barcelona) – 12-14 June
• Austria – 26-28 June
• Great Britain – 3-5 July
• Belgium – 17-19 July
• Hungary – 24-26 July
• Netherlands – 21-23 August
• Italy – 4-6 September
• Spain (Madrid) – 11-13 September
• Azerbaijan – 25-27 September
• Singapore – 9-11 October
• United States (Austin) – 23-25 October
• Mexico – 30 October-1 November
• Brazil – 6-8 November
• Las Vegas – 19-21 November
• Qatar – 27-29 November
• Abu Dhabi – 4-6 December

2026 F1 Calendar Streamlines Race Order 5z3b5j

Formula 1’s new streamlined 2026 calendar has been designed to make travel more orderly.

The European leg of the season now runs in full from Monaco on 5-7 June to Madrid on 11-13 September.

Australia will host the opening race, before F1 moves through Asia with the Chinese and Japanese Grand Prix.

The Middle East then hosts two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, before Miami and now Canada.

After the European stint, Azerbaijan starts the final third of the season.

Then comes Singapore, USA (Austin) and Mexico, before the now established run-in of Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.