The FIA has confirmed a revision to one of its championship calendars after the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, ensuring the affected series maintains its planned race total for the 2026 season.
Earlier this year, Formula 1 announced the removal of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix from the 2026 schedule due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While the cancellations impacted the main F1 championship significantly, only the Saudi Arabian round had been included on the 2026 calendar for F1 Academy, the all-female single-seater development series.
The Saudi Arabian event was due to take place at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a venue known for its fast street layout and dramatic night racing atmosphere. Its removal left a gap in the F1 Academy schedule, prompting swift action from the sport’s governing body.
Unlike Formula 1 race weekends, F1 Academy events feature two competitive races: a reverse-grid contest and a traditional feature race. With the Jeddah round originally set to host both of those races, its cancellation meant the championship would fall short of its intended 14-race campaign.
To resolve the issue, the FIA has introduced two additional races elsewhere on the calendar. These will take the form of a newly created “opening race,” a format addition that has now been formally written into the FIA sporting regulations. The move ensures that the championship structure remains balanced and that teams and drivers still compete across a full 14-race season.
As part of the adjustment, both the Canadian and United States Grand Prix weekends will now feature expanded F1 Academy programmes. During those events, the series will stage three races instead of the usual two. The newly introduced opening race will be held at the start of each race weekend, followed by the reverse-grid and feature races already established in the format.
This solution allows the FIA to maintain competitive integrity without significantly disrupting the broader Formula 1 calendar. It also ensures that drivers in F1 Academy continue to receive the same level of track time and development opportunities originally planned for the season.
Despite the challenges posed by geopolitical instability, the governing body’s swift response underlines its commitment to sustaining the growth and visibility of F1 Academy. By adapting the format and redistributing the races, the championship remains on course for a complete and competitive 2026 campaign.