F1 Today | F1 2026 calendar revealed, Red Bull rising star gets superlicense

Formula 1 has officially confirmed its 2026 calendar, and it's the beginning of a whole new era. With the introduction of new technical regulations and a grid soon to be powered by fully sustainable fuels, the championship will feature 24 Grand Prix weekends, kicking off in Australia on 8 March and ending in Abu Dhabi on 6 December, marking a continuation of the most logistically demanding and globally expansive calendars in F1 history.

The standout additions and removals involve Madrid, which makes its long-awaited debut as host of the Spanish Grand Prix, but Barcelona remains on the calendar, meaning Spain gets a double dose of F1 action. Meanwhile, the legendary Imola has been extricated from the prgramme. There’s some logic behind the reshuffle, though: Miami and Canada have finally been clustered together, addressing one of the sport’s most criticized logistical approaches, bu also making the race in Montreal clash with the Indy500..

Last but not least, Zandvoort will be making its final appearance on 23 August. Dutch fans will still get a second home option in Spa, scheduled a month earlier on 19 July, but losing Zandvoort marks the end of a thrilling racing chapter. The season opens aggressively with a triple-header in Melbourne, Shanghai, and Suzuka, making sure drivers and teams get back on the pace right out of the gat.

Arvid Lindblad is officially ready to drive in F1. The FIA World Council has approved the young Brit’s super license application, meaning he can now drive in Formula 1 before turning 18. Red Bull submitted the request weeks ago, with Helmut Marko himself calling Lindblad the “best talent” in their academy. The FIA cited Lindblad’s “outstanding ability and maturity” in single-seater competition as the basis for their green light.

Lindblad had already secured enough points for a super license by winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship last winter, but his age stood in the way of automatic eligibility. Currently third in the Formula 2 standings, just eight points behind McLaren junior Alex Dunne, Lindblad has already collected a Sprint Race win in Saudi Arabia and a Feature Race victory in Barcelona. While he’s now eligible for F1, Red Bull doesn’t seem eager to fast-track him just yet, FP1 outings with Racing Bulls are the most likely next step.

Despite Verstappen teetering on the edge of a race ban, Red Bull won’t be throwing Lindblad into the deep end just yet. Should Max sit out a race, either Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar will fill in at Red Bull, while Ayumu Iwasa would step into Racing Bulls. Lindblad is expected to continue honing his craft in F2 before a potential debut in 2026. Johnny Herbert even claimed the Campos Racing driver might one day be better than Verstappen himself.