According to rumors, only the official announcement is missing for the introduction of the Chicago GP to the calendar from 2026, although Stefano Domenicali has denied the rumors.
After rumors in recent months, could the Chicago GP soon become a reality? Indeed, on January 19th, Formula One Licensing B.V. had filed four different trademark requests with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to register the Chicago GP. This had immediately fueled speculation, with the alleged desire by Liberty Media to further expand the boundaries of the premier class in the United States, already present on the calendar with three GPs.
The recent rumor seems to confirm the speculation. According to reports from Fastest Pitstop, which had already mentioned the organizers’ desire to build a circuit more in the ‘European’ style, only the official announcement is missing for the introduction of the Chicago GP to the calendar from 2026, with the announcement expected in the coming weeks.
The Grand Prix, according to rumors, would take place near Soldier Field Stadium, already visited by Formula 1 during the Chicago Festival in 2019. The event also involves the construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art stadium worth $4 billion.
The GP would be held between the Imola GP and the Canada GP, and should once again be a night event. This would mean witnessing a total of 8 GPs with artificial lights in 2026, even if Madrid were to confirm itself as the first European night race in history.
In contrast to what was seen in Miami and especially in Las Vegas, the organizers’ goal would be to prioritize action over spectacle, with the layout featuring a mix of medium and high-speed corners to promote on-track battles.
However, according to Nate Saunders, Formula 1 currently has no intention of increasing the number of races in the United States. Stefano Domenicali also confirmed this to ESPN: “The calendar already seems quite full there. I don’t expect to have any more races (in America), to be honest.”
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