Imola axed from 2026 F1 calendar, two races in Spain
The 2026 Formula One season will start on March 8 in Australia and end on Dec 6 in Abu Dhabi. PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – Formula One will have two races in Spain next season with Madrid making its debut in September and Italy's Imola dropping off the 24-round calendar, the governing FIA announced on June 10.
Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix will again be the season-opener on March 8 with China's Shanghai circuit hosting round two a week later, as the sport enters a new engine era with Cadillac also arriving as an 11th team.
Monaco will be the first European round on June 7 with Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya scheduled the following week.
Madrid's new street circuit will debut as the last race in Europe on Sept 13, the weekend after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Imola was out of contract after this season's race and drops off the list.
The season will end in Abu Dhabi on Dec 6.
'We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula One grid,' said Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
'It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel to wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe.'
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, added: 'Next year's FIA Formula One World Championship marks a significant new chapter for our sport. A new race, new teams, and the arrival of new manufacturers, all ushering in a fresh era of innovation and competition.
'With 24 Grands Prix across five continents, the season truly reflects the global nature of our community, while the improved geographical flow of the calendar shows our joint commitment to making the championship more efficient and sustainable.'
Swiss-based Sauber will become the Audi works team in 2026 while Ford are partnering with Red Bull.
Calendar:
March 8 - Australia, Melbourne
March 15 - China, Shanghai
March 29 - Japan, Suzuka
April 12 - Bahrain, Sakhir
April 19 - Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
May 3 - United States, Miami
May 24 - Canada, Montreal
June 7 - Monaco
June 14 - Spain, Barcelona
June 28 - Austria, Spielberg
July 5 - Britain, Silverstone
July 19 - Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
July 26 - Hungary, Budapest
August 23 - Netherlands, Zandvoort
September 6 - Italy, Monza
September 13 - Spain, Madrid
September 27 - Azerbaijan, Baku
October 11 - Singapore
October 25 - United States, Austin
November 1 - Mexico, Mexico City
November 8 - Brazil, Sao Paulo
November 21 - United States, Las Vegas
November 29 - Qatar
December 6 - Abu Dhabi
REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
NATO agrees to higher defence spending goal, Spain says it is opting out
FILE PHOTO: The logo of NATO is seen at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in the NATO defence ministers' session together with Sweden as the invitee, at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo NATO agrees to higher defence spending goal, Spain says it is opting out BRUSSELS/MADRID - NATO members agreed on Sunday to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to comply just days before a summit in The Hague meant to be a show of unity. NATO officials had been anxious to find consensus on a summit statement on a new spending commitment ahead of Wednesday's gathering. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared on Thursday he would not commit to the 5% target. NATO boss Mark Rutte has proposed to reach the target by boosting NATO's core defence spending goal from 2% to 3.5% of GDP and spending an extra 1.5% on related items like cyber security and adapting roads and bridges for military vehicles. After diplomats agreed on a compromise text on Sunday, Sanchez swiftly proclaimed Spain would not have to meet the 5% target as it would only have to spend 2.1% of GDP to meet NATO's core military requirements. "We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defence investment, but we are not going to do so," Sanchez said in an address on Spanish television. Spain spent 1.24% of GDP on defence in 2024, or about 17.2 billion euros ($19.8 billion), according to NATO estimates, making it the lowest spender in the alliance as a share of its economic output. NATO officials argue big defence spending increases are needed to counter a growing threat from Russia and to allow Europe to take on more responsibility for its own security as the United States shifts its military focus to China. TRUMP CRITICISM Sanchez's stance risked setting up a summit clash with Trump, who has frequently accused European countries of not spending enough on defence and threatened not to defend them if they do not meet their targets. On Friday, Trump said Spain "has to pay what everybody else has to pay" and Madrid was "notorious" for low defence spending. However, he also suggested the U.S. should not have to meet the new target, as the U.S. had spent large amounts to protect the continent over a long period. Washington spent an estimated 3.19% of GDP on defence in 2024, NATO says. But Sanchez argued it was not necessary for Spain to meet the new target and trying to do so would mean drastic cuts on social spending such as state pensions, or tax hikes. NATO did not release the compromise summit text, which will only become official when it is endorsed by the leaders of NATO's 32 members at the summit. But diplomats said one tweak in the language on the spending commitment, from "we commit" to "allies commit," allowed Spain to say the pledge does not apply to all members. In a letter seen by Reuters, Rutte told Sanchez that Spain would have "flexibility to determine its own sovereign path" for meeting its military capability targets agreed with NATO. A NATO diplomat said Rutte's letter was simply "an affirmation that allies chart their own course for making good on their commitments" to meet their capability targets. NATO officials have expressed scepticism that Spain can meet its military capability targets by spending just 2.1% of GDP, as Sanchez has suggested. The targets are secret so their costs cannot be independently verified. "All allies have now agreed to the summit statement – which includes the new defence investment plan," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Rutte had originally proposed countries meet the new target by 2032 but the deadline in the final text is 2035, according to diplomats. There will also be a review of the target in 2029. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Yildiz double powers Juventus to 4-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Kenan Yildiz scores their third goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto REUTERS Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Kenan Yildiz celebrates scoring their third goal with Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah REUTERS/Lee Smith Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Kenan Yildiz in action with Wydad Casablanca's Nordin Amrabat and Fahd Moufi IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto REUTERS PHILADELPHIA - Kenan Yildiz struck twice and played a key role in an own goal as Juventus secured a 4-1 win over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on Sunday. The Italian side top Group G with six points after two matches, three clear of Manchester City, who play UAE's Al Ain later on Sunday. Both Al Ain and Wydad have no points. Juventus started brightly at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, taking the lead in the sixth minute. Yildiz was instrumental in the opener as his angled shot forced Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil to turn the ball into his own net in his attempt to block it. Ten minutes later, Yildiz unleashed a spectacular strike from the edge of the box into the top-right corner to give Juventus a 2-0 lead, but a mistake by the Italian defence gifted Thembinkosi Lorch a goal to reduce the deficit in the 25th minute. Juve, however, extended their lead again through Yildiz's brilliance, with the 20-year-old Turkish forward scoring their third goal from close-range in the 69th minute, with substitute Dusan Vlahovic wrapping up their commanding win from the penalty spot deep in added time. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
India 96-2 in second innings after Brook leads England comeback
LEEDS, England - India finished day three on 90-2 to lead England by 96 runs at stumps in the opening test at Headingley on Sunday after England were dismissed for 465 in the first innings on the back of Ollie Pope's century and Harry Brook's knock of 99. Having scored 471 in the first innings, India's total was virtually wiped out when they walked in to bat again with a slender six-run lead and a little over two days left to play to leave the test evenly poised. England struck early when Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a century in the first innings, was forced to play a superb Brydon Carse delivery that caught the edge to give wicketkeeper Jamie Smith an easy catch. Sai Sudharsan walked in with the threat of rain looming large and the 23-year-old, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, played patiently in gloomy conditions that were ideal for seam bowling as he built a partnership with opener KL Rahul. But just as in the first innings, England skipper Ben Stokes removed Sudharsan (30) again when the Indian batter clipped an inswinging delivery to short midwicket where Zak Crawley took a sharp catch. However, play was stopped when the rain came down with Rahul unbeaten on 47 and skipper Shubman Gill (six not out) at the crease. AGONY FOR BROOK On a blustery day, which began with a moment of appreciation for former England speedster David "Syd" Lawrence who died aged 61, India started well with Pope perishing for 106 after adding only six runs to his overnight score. But England capitalised on the tourists' generosity in the field before Brook fell agonisingly short of a fairytale century on his home ground. The Yorkshire-born batter made India pay for dropped catches, with Jaiswal dropping him at fourth slip when he was on 82 for his third lifeline. It was Jaiswal's third dropped catch and India's fifth in the innings. Brook looked set for a big score before his moment of heartbreak came when he attempted to reach three figures with a flourish, lofting Prasidh Krishna over fine leg only to find Shardul Thakur stationed at the boundary rope. A dejected Brook threw his head back and put his hand up to his face before he trudged back to the pavilion as the Headingley crowd overcame their disappointment to give him a standing ovation. But in stark contrast to India's lower order, England's tail wagged. While India's last five wickets fell for 18 runs, England's lower order added 112 runs. With India getting desperate, Gill brought Jasprit Bumrah back into the attack and he completed a five-wicket haul by cleaning up the tail, dismissing Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue with deliveries that crashed into the stumps. Bumrah could have easily had more but India's pace spearhead saw four catches dropped off his bowling on a poor day in the field for Gill's side. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
