Things to know about the sprint weekends for the 2026 F1 schedule

It has been confirmed that the 2026 F1 schedule will embrace a complete of six dash race weekends once more after Formulation 1 and the FIA have revealed their plans for the upcoming season. The calendar for the next season is about to characteristic three new places for the compact weekend format.

The 2026 Formulation One season will introduce a totally new period of technical laws to the game and host the sixth 12 months of the Dash format.

The primary F1 Dash of 2026 will happen in Shanghai, adopted by Miami, with each Grands Prix internet hosting a Dash weekend for the third consecutive 12 months. Silverstone returns to the Dash Calendar for the primary time because the format’s inaugural occasion in 2021, and Montréal, Zandvoort and Singapore are all set to host their first ever Dash weekend.

The regulation for the dash weekend format was launched again in 2021, however the guidelines concerning the schedule and the parc ferme situations have been amended on a number of events since then. In keeping with the present guidelines, Dash Qualifying takes place on Friday following Free Apply 1, with the Dash and Grand Prix Qualifying on Saturday, earlier than the weekend culminates with the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Why does F1 proceed to pursue dash weekend?

Formulation One has sounded a optimistic observe in regards to the success of the dash weekend format, stressing that „the format has continued to show common amongst followers internationally, resulting in robust attendance and viewership figures throughout broadcast, digital and social platforms.“

In 2024, TV viewership for Dash weekends was on common 10% higher than non-Dash weekends, and the game continues to see an upward development following the opening three Dash weekends of the 2025 season.

Lewis Hamilton’s maiden Ferrari win within the Shanghai Dash noticed an 84% reside TV viewers enhance throughout Formulation 1’s high 15 markets compared to final 12 months’s occasion, and the Miami Grand Prix Dash, gained by Lando Norris, was watched by 26.6 million TV viewers, an 18% enhance versus final 12 months.

This 12 months’s Dash occasion in Belgium, gained by Max Verstappen, noticed a big rise in TV viewership in each heritage and development markets, together with in Germany (+40%), France (+42%), China (+182%), and Argentina (+9%), when in comparison with the Dash occasion in Europe in 2024.

What does FOM consider the dash format?

When reflecting on the compact weekend format, Formulation One’s President Stefano Domenicali pressured that the F1 Dash has continued to develop in optimistic impression and recognition because it was launched in 2021.

„With 4 aggressive classes quite than two throughout a standard Grand Prix weekend, F1 Dash occasions provide extra motion every day for our followers, broadcast companions, and for the promoters – driving elevated attendance and viewership. We’re additionally proud to have welcomed Gatorade as an Official Accomplice of F1 Dash, demonstrating the large curiosity within the occasion from an iconic world model.

“The 2026 season will usher in a brand new period of laws, so having three new Dash venues will solely add to the drama on observe. I wish to thank the FIA, all of the promoters, our companions, marshals, volunteers, and native sporting golf equipment for persevering with to make the Dash a giant success and all of us look ahead to giving our followers extra unbelievable racing and pleasure within the 2026 season,“ the Italian concluded.

What does the FIA consider the dash format?

As he commented on the announcement of the six F1 Dash places for the upcoming season, FIA’s President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem pressured that promoters, groups and followers present a „continued enthusiasm“ for the compact weekend format.

“The Dash format has change into an more and more thrilling a part of the FIA Formulation One World Championship, delivering high-intensity racing and added leisure for followers all over the world.

„As we sit up for a landmark 2026 season that includes a brand new era of vehicles and laws, I’m happy to see the Dash evolving alongside our broader ambitions for the game.

„The inclusion of latest venues alongside returning favourites displays the continued enthusiasm from promoters, groups and followers alike. We are going to proceed to work carefully with FOM, the groups, our officers, and the drivers to make sure the Dash format enhances the championship.”

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