F1 Schedule 2026: Next race moved to new day, major questions remain as Iran war es… Read more

F1 Schedule 2026: Next race moved to new day, major questions remain as Iran war escalates

Formula 1 is heading into another unusual chapter of the 2026 season, with the next Grand Prix set to take place on a Saturday rather than the traditional Sunday.

The Formula One championship is preparing for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on September 26, with the change made to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27. The FIA and Formula 1 previously confirmed the move from Sunday to Saturday. �

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The unusual schedule means teams will have a compressed weekend. Practice begins on Thursday, September 24, qualifying follows on Friday, September 25, and the Grand Prix itself takes place on Saturday afternoon. Formula 1’s official timetable lists the race for 15:00 local time in Baku. �

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For fans, the Saturday race creates an immediate change to the normal F1 routine. Instead of waiting for Sunday afternoon to see the championship battle unfold, the Azerbaijan winner will already be known before the weekend is over.

But the calendar change in Baku is not the biggest question surrounding the final part of the 2026 season.

Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain under the spotlight

The major uncertainty concerns the final two scheduled races in the Middle East.

Qatar is currently scheduled for November 29, followed by the Abu Dhabi season finale on December 6. However, the continuing conflict involving Iran and other countries in the region has raised questions about whether those events can safely take place as originally planned. �

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Formula 1 has continued to monitor the situation, with the safety and wellbeing of personnel remaining central to any decision over the calendar.

Earlier in the season, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled because of the conflict. Rather than returning to Bahrain, Formula 1 eventually confirmed that the Bahrain-branded race would be held at Sepang in Malaysia from October 2–4, restoring another round to the calendar. �

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That decision demonstrated that Formula 1 has already been willing to make major calendar changes when circumstances require it.

Could the season finale move?

One possibility that has received attention is the use of a European circuit if the final Middle Eastern races cannot proceed.

Imola has been discussed as a potential alternative, with reports suggesting that Formula 1 has considered the Italian circuit as one option should the Qatar or Abu Dhabi events become impossible. However, this remains a contingency scenario rather than a confirmed change to the calendar. �

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For now, the official schedule still lists Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

That distinction is important because speculation surrounding the calendar has grown considerably as the regional situation has developed. Formula 1 has not announced that either Qatar or Abu Dhabi has been cancelled.

The remaining 2026 races

As things currently stand, the remaining calendar is:

September 26: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

October 2–4: Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

October 11: Singapore Grand Prix

October 25: United States Grand Prix

November 1: Mexico City Grand Prix

November 8: São Paulo Grand Prix

November 21: Las Vegas Grand Prix

November 29: Qatar Grand Prix

December 6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix �

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The next immediate focus, however, is Baku.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be one of the most unusual weekends of the season, with qualifying on Friday and the main race on Saturday. That means teams have less time than usual between the final preparation sessions and the Grand Prix itself.

For the championship contenders, every point could become increasingly important as the season enters its final stretch.

And while the Azerbaijan race has a confirmed Saturday date, the bigger question hanging over Formula 1 is what happens later in the year.

The 2026 calendar is still officially intact, but the ongoing Middle East conflict means the final chapters of the season remain subject to close monitoring. �

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