F1 chief govt Stefano Domenicali has shed new mild on the game’s future plans.
F1 is contemplating including extra Dash races to its annual calendar (Picture: Getty)
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali admitted there might be as many as 12 Dash races held subsequent yr, based mostly on “suggestions from the followers”. The Italian additionally teased that affirmation of an outdated venue coming again to the game could come quickly – however insisted there isn’t any plan to transcend the 24 occasions which can be at present held per season.
The 2026 calendar is about in stone, with six Dash races to come back, as was the case within the 2025 marketing campaign, and one addition to the grid within the type of a brand new occasion in Madrid. The semi-permanent road observe, which remains to be beneath building, will assume the Spanish Grand Prix moniker with Spain’s present occasion in Montmelo set to be often known as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Barcelona occasion will even now not be a everlasting fixture on the calendar after this yr, following affirmation of a contract extension which can see it held solely biannually between 2028 and 2032. It would alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix, one other historic and beloved observe within the type of the Spa-Francorchamps additionally shedding its annual standing.
Domenicali has now confirmed that “different alternations are doable sooner or later”, with the Portuguese Grand Prix already confirmed as returning in 2027 and the robust risk that the Turkish Grand Prix is also making a comeback. Domenicali advised reporters, together with Specific Sport, to “keep tuned” as a deal for the Istanbul Park circuit to return to F1 “is just not one hundred pc confirmed”.
However he confirmed that additions to the calendar won’t result in an extended season, telling journalists: “The brand new ones which can be coming are [permanent] tracks and never road races. Keep tuned on Turkey, however Portugal is certainly there [at Portimao], Madrid is a semi-permanent observe that’s working to be prepared this yr. Different alternations are doable sooner or later, however we wish to persist with the quantity [24 races].”
Domenicali confirmed extra short-term offers with European circuits may come within the meantime, to fill gaps till larger, longer-term tasks are able to go. He stated: “Constructing one thing from zero requires the appropriate time. I’d say this stuff can occur [from] 2029, as a result of we’ve different expirations of contracts, so there’s an evolving state of affairs.”
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However as much as 12 Dash races per yr might be arriving quite a bit sooner, as Domenicali added: “The rationale why we began to debate the variety of sprints and perhaps some totally different format is due to the suggestions we acquired from the followers, the promoters, that individuals wish to see actual motion through the three days. Already on Friday, individuals wish to see one thing sporting – qualifying or no matter it’s.
“Even when it isn’t a Dash weekend, there’s a development of [wanting to have] one thing totally different. We’re considering to maintain on daily basis we’re on observe related.”
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