F1 poised to make major calendar announcement

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has confirmed a major change to the grand prix calendar is due to be unveiled soon.

F1's remarkable rise since Liberty Media took over as owners in 2017 has resulted in new countries looking to join the bandwagon.

Madrid joins the circus in 2026, whilst a return to a new circuit in South Korea is on the cards, as well as proposals from South Africa, Argentina and Colombia.  

With demand so high, F1 is unable to accommodate every request, which has resulted in suggestions that certain races should be alternated on the calendar.

Recently, it was suggested the Dutch GP could be staged every two years, helping to save costs and ensure it remains financially viable given the hosting fees demanded by F1 these days. The Belgian GP also falls into that category.

Outlining what is to come, speaking in a Liberty Media investor call, Domenicali said: "For '26 and beyond, we will have some news to share very, very soon regarding the possibility, in the mid-term, to rotate some European grands prix, and some other new options coming later. This is something we will clarify in due course.

"It is true we have a large demand of possible new venues that want to come in. Our choice will always be balanced between the right economic benefit we can have as a system, and also to leverage the market where we can see the potential to further grow our business.

"It's something we are managing, and thank God today, we have a quality problem to handle that was not the case just a couple of years ago."

There have also been suggestions the calendar could expand to 26 races. There is a provision in the Concorde Agreement, the contract that binds F1, the FIA, and the 10 teams.

Domenicali is adamant, however, the record-breaking figure this year of 24 is the maximum for now.

"We believe the balance we have in terms of numbers is the right one," said Domenicali. "Twenty-four is the balance number.

"I do believe all the proposals on our table are giving us the possibility to make even better choices for our future.

"As always, we need to be balanced, knowing we cannot follow a pure financial proposal because it differs from region to region. It's up to us to propose to our stakeholders the right choices.

"We are in a good momentum to make sure the strategy for the future is even stronger, and that's why we are so confident this will help to enhance our platform of the sport from a social and business perspective."