When does the 2026 F1 season start? All you need to know

As quickly because the chequered flag fell for the ultimate time in 2025 in Abu Dhabi, consideration already began turning in direction of the 2026 F1 season.

The 2026 season will characteristic 24 races, opening with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March and ending on 6 December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Enormous modifications are coming to F1 in 2026, with the introduction of brand name new rules.

The brand new F1 design guidelines, that have an effect on chassis, aerodynamics and the ability unit, are the largest within the championship’s 75-year historical past and will shake-up the pecking order.

F1 will say goodbye to DRS as new transferring wings are launched, with the automobiles designed to enhance following and overtaking alternatives.

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Because of the regulation overhaul, there will probably be extra pre-season testing than regular.

An preliminary check will probably be held behind closed doorways on the finish of January in Barcelona, earlier than two additional pre-season exams are held in Bahrain in February.

The season will then start for actual in Melbourne on the second weekend of March.

F1 pre-season testing dates

Personal check, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – January 26-30

Official pre-season Check 1, Bahrain Worldwide Circuit – February 11-13

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Official pre-season Check 2, Bahrain Worldwide Circuit – February 18-20

Full F1 2026 calendar

The 2026 F1 season incorporates a new race within the Spanish capital Madrid.

This race is along with the grand prix held at Barcelona’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Madrid replaces Imola, which drops off the calendar for 2026.

F1 2026 CALENDER: FULL SCHEDULE AND DATE OF EVERY RACERoundGrand PrixVenueDate1AustraliaMelbourne06-08 March2ChinaShanghai13-15 March3JapanSuzuka27-29 March4BahrainSakhir10-12 April5Saudi ArabiaJeddah17-19 April6MiamiMiami01-03 May7CanadaMontreal22-24 May8MonacoMonaco05-07 June9SpainBarcelona12-14 June10AustriaSpielberg26-28 June11United KingdomSilverstone03-05 July12BelgiumSpa-Francorchamps17-19 July13HungaryBudapest24-26 July14NetherlandsZandvoort21-23 August15ItalyMonza04-06 September16SpainMadrid11-13 September17AzerbaijanBaku24-26 September18SingaporeSingapore09-11 October19USAAustin23-25 October20MexicoMexico City30 October – 01 November21BrazilSao Paulo06-08 November22Las VegasLas Vegas19-21 November23QatarLusail27-29 November24Abu DhabiYas Marina04-06 December

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What about dash races?

Six dash races will as soon as once more be held in F1 2026.

The British Grand Prix will probably be one of many venues to host a dash, with Silverstone final staging the format in 2021.

The opposite races to carry dash races in 2026 will probably be China, Miami, Canada, the Netherlands and Singapore.

F1 2026 driver line-ups

2026 F1 driver line-upDriverTeamContract EndLando NorrisMcLaren”Lengthy-term”Oscar PiastriMcLaren2026Lewis HamiltonFerrariMulti-yearCharles LeclercFerrariMulti-yearMax VerstappenRed Bull2028Isack HadjarRed Bull2026George RussellMercedesMulti-yearKimi AntonelliMercedes2026Fernando AlonsoAston MartinLance StrollAston Martin”2025 and past”Pierre GaslyAlpine”Long run”Franco ColapintoAlpine2026Esteban OconHaasMulti-yearOliver BearmanHaasMulti-yearLiam LawsonRacing Bulls2026Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls2026Alex AlbonHaas2025Carlos SainzHaas”Past 2026″Nico HulkenbergAudiMulti-yearGabriel BortoletoAudiMulti-yearSergio PerezCadillacMulti-yearValtteri BottasCadillacMulti-year