Now that the 2025 Formula One season is over, the attention of all fans has turned towards 2026. The calendar for the upcoming season has been known for a good few months and has already managed to spark some controversies in the community. Although much remained similar to 2025, some questionable changes have been implemented into its structure.
One of the biggest criticisms of Formula One is its environmental unfriendliness. The sport’s officials are aware of the issues it causes and have taken action to reduce its carbon footprint. One of the ongoing changes is the improvement of the “geographical flow of races”. As part of the project, Grand Prix held in similar locations were put side-by-side in the calendar, in hopes of reducing the number of necessary long travels.
In 2025, Miami and Canada were separated by a few European races, but for the upcoming season, the Canadian race was moved to May. While this decision was applauded by fans, as it could theoretically lead to a reduction in trips, a problem was quickly identified. Although the races are right by each other in the calendar, in real life, they are separated by a few Grand Prix-less weekends. This means that the drivers, mechanics, and other team members will still travel from Europe to the US, back to Europe, and then to Canada.
The setup will still allow for some cuts to Formula One’s carbon emissions, as the cars and equipment won’t have to move overseas and back. Still, had it been planned out with more forethought, it could have achieved its environmentally friendly goal much more effectively.
The name ‘street race’ refers to any race held on the streets of the host city, rather than on a previously established track. They have existed since the sport’s very first season, with the Monaco Grand Prix, perhaps the most famous event of each season, taking place on the streets of the municipality. In recent years, more of them than ever before had appeared on the calendar. This isn’t to the fans’ content, as it is a common opinion that street races provide much worse racing and are therefore generally disliked by the viewers.
As with many issues related to Formula One, in the end, everything comes down to money. With the sport’s growing popularity, more and more cities want to host their own race, but aren’t willing to spend the millions necessary to build a track from the ground up. The easiest solution is to set up a temporary circuit, even if it is to the fans’ discontent.
In 2026, one of Formula One’s most iconic tracks, the beautiful Imola, will disappear from the calendar, instead replaced by yet another street race, this one held in Madrid. It will take place in September and close out the European leg of the championship. As can be expected, the decision was met with disapproval from the fans, with a petition being created to keep Imola on the calendar. The efforts fell on deaf ears.
Finally, the cherry on top of the calendar’s problems is the sprint venues chosen for 2026. Fans were quick to point out that tracks such as Zandvoort or Singapore, both of which will include the Saturday race, are known for providing few overtaking opportunities. Since a sprint usually passes by without pit stops, they are the only chance for the order to change. Without them, there is a high risk of the races turning into boring parades, in which few drivers change positions.
One of the sprints being held in Singapore brings with it another big issue. Formula One tends to visit the country in October, a month in which temperatures are usually between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. For that reason, all the racing sessions are held late in the evening, once both the track and the air have had some time to cool off. This won’t be the case with the sprint, which will begin at five in the afternoon, providing enough time for the qualifying to be held afterwards. This means that the drivers won’t only be battling each other, but also the incredibly taxing and dangerous weather conditions.
There are many issues already visible with Formula One’s 2026 calendar, and more are sure to surface once the season begins. The implemented changes show that, once again, money-making has been prioritized over good racing, entertainment, and safety. This is a concerning trend that has been visible in many aspects of the sport. Profit has become the unquestionable king of Formula One, turning the iconic motorsport into something that many fans do not want to support. The issues outlined in this article are only the tip of the iceberg and can serve as a starting point for a much larger conversation.
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