The boss of the Circus spoke about the future of the category to the microphones of the official F1.com website
The Circus never stands still
2026 will be the year of revolution in Formula 1: new cars, new engines and a new, richer starting grid, with the arrival of Cadillac as the 11th team and the debut of a giant such as Audi, which has taken the place of the “old” Sauber. But in the Circus, standing still is impossible, and so the boss of the championship, Stefano Domenicali, is already looking further ahead to the future of the category.
One topic that is always under discussion is the race calendar, which has now stabilised at 24 Grands Prix but, from 2027, is expected to see an increase in the number of Sprint events, currently set at six. When it comes to Grand Prix venues, Formula 1 is constantly evolving: after the recent additions of Miami and Las Vegas, this year F1 will welcome the Madrid street circuit, while in 2027 it will embrace the return of the Portuguese track of Portimao. On the other hand, Imola, Zandvoort and possibly Barcelona are heading towards an exit.
Stefano Domenicali himself recently spoke at length about issues related to the World Championship calendar in an interview given to the official Formula 1 website, in partnership with Spanish banking group Santander: “It’s fantastic to be able to share the fact that today, thanks to the great success we are experiencing, there are many countries that would like to host races,” explained Stefano Domenicali, “but we cannot have too many. I believe the balance we have today is excellent. When we consider new events, new locations, new countries, there are many things we have to think about and put on the table.”
Many different interests
“There is certainly the economic aspect, and there is the interest of that country and of our partners,” the Formula 1 CEO underlined further, “because we have to respect what they would like to see when we enter a country. We also have to understand what kind of business model we can develop there. Because what matters is not only the interest in the first few years, but also in the future. The interest has to be maintained.” One of the medium- to long-term objectives of the Circus is to return to Africa, currently the only continent without a single race on the championship calendar.
“For us it is important to maintain a balance between new events, street circuits, venues with a strong tradition and places that will have a future, so it is fascinating,” Stefano Domenicali concluded. “Creating the perfect calendar is one of the most difficult things to do, because there are so many elements that every country, every promoter, wants to see respected. So it is a puzzle that, in the end, is beautiful, but not easy.”
Stefano Domenicali’s insights into the 2026 Formula 1 calendar highlight the delicate tightrope the sport must walk between its historical European roots and the lucrative pull of global expansion. As new street circuits in cities like Madrid join the fray, the pressure to maintain technical and cultural variety—while potentially returning to Africa—remains a top priority for the commercial rights holders. The successful evolution of the schedule depends on creating a “sustainable puzzle” that satisfies both long-term business models and the passionate global fan base, ensuring that every venue on the 24-race calendar brings unique value to the championship’s new hybrid era.
In summary, while F1 enjoys unprecedented demand from global hosts, the F1 CEO remains committed to a balanced schedule that respects tradition while embracing a technologically advanced and geographically diverse future.
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