F1 calendar shake‑up
F1 has removed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from April and introduced a new “Opening Race” format, keeping the 2026 season at 14 races — a notable calendar compression and format tweak for the year. The change is being rolled out as teams and promoters adjust the early‑season rhythm and travel plans. (racefans.net)
Formula 1 and the FIA announced on March 14, 2026 that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. (fia.com) The decision removes the Jeddah round from its April date and reduces the 2026 F1 calendar from 24 scheduled events to 22, creating a five-week gap in the early-season programme. (racefans.net) F1 Academy — the female development series operating alongside F1 weekends — has introduced a new three-race weekend format that adds an “Opening Race” and, according to its press release, restores the F1 Academy 2026 calendar to 14 races after the April cancellations. (ebs.publicnow.com) Under the Opening Race format the grid will be set by each driver’s second-fastest qualifying lap from a single 30‑minute qualifying session, and the race will award full championship points while giving one point for Fastest Lap and no points for Pole. (ebs.publicnow.com) F1 Academy said the Opening Race will debut at Round 2 in Montreal and return at Round 5 in Austin, and that an update to the Sporting Regulations permits the Opening Race to be added at selected rounds to keep race counts consistent or to use extra track time. (ebs.publicnow.com) Teams, feeder-series organisers and local promoters have been told to adjust travel and logistics as the cancelled Gulf swing interrupted planned freight movements and event timings, a disruption that organisers warned would require reworking early-season operational plans. (motorsport.com)
