1. Australia Albert Park , Melbourne / March 6-8
The right place for an F1 season to start. For the first 16 laps of last year’s race, the top five ran in their final points order !
2. China Shanghai / March 13-15
Not the best-loved track but racing here can be good. Features first sprint of the year – remember Hamilton’s 2025 win ?
3. Japan Suzuka / March 27-29One of the great drivers’ circuits, which is probably why Verstappen is unbeaten in the past four races .
4. Bahrain Sakhir / April 10-12 Usually one of the better tracks for racing, and an F1 test venue of choice. Piastri won in 2025 .
5. Saudi Arabia Jeddah Corniche / April 17-19 Incredibly high-speed for a temporary circuit, but track limits tend to make racing controversial .
Miami , US / May 1-3
Scene of McLaren ’s renaissance in ’24 with Norris, and Piastri won in ’25. Second sprint of the year .
7. Canada Montreal / May 22-24
One of the great races and venues this year gets a sprint for the first time. Rain can always throw a curveball here .
Circuit de Monaco / June 5-7
Norris won in 2025 – and cried. That’s because this one’s a classic, even if there’s no overtaking .
Barcelona-Catalunya / June 12-14
Reprieved despite new Spanish GP venue. Verstappen’s moment of madness on Russell overshadowed Piastri’s ’25 win .
10. Austria Spielberg / June 26-28
Russell and Norris have won the past two races. Beautiful setting and decent track, if not as great as Österrichring .
11. Great Britain Silverstone / July 3-5
Scene of Hamilton’s last ‘on-the-road’ GP victory, but it was Norris prompting flag-waving in ’25. Sprint race on menu .
12. Belgium Spa-Francorchamps / July 17-19
Few dislike Spa, especially umbrella manufacturers – and McLaren , which took a 1-2 in the Ardennes last year .
13. Hungary Hungaroring / July 24-26
Track is a bit twisty but it’s a great place to spectate. McLaren unbeaten here in past two years .
14. Netherlands Zandvoort / August 21-23
Zandvoort ’s swansong (for now) gets a sprint for ’26. One of the best tracks in Europe, amid Verstappenmania
15. Italy Monza / September 4-6
Italy’s sole F1 venue again after sad dropping of Imola . Scene of start of Verstappen resurgence last term .
16. Spain Madrid / September 11-13
Brand-new venue for the Spanish GP. Let’s hope they’ve produced a better track than they did in Valencia in ’08 .
17. Azerbaijan Baku / September 24-26
The ‘Macau ’ of the F1 calendar features great racing and high drama. Don’t forget it’s on Saturday this year though .
18. Singapore Marina Bay / October 9-11
For the first time, this event gets a sprint – the last of 2026. Russell and Mercedes hit form to win last year on tricky track .
19. United States COTA, Austin, Texas / October 23-25
Who will be allegro in Austin? We’ll predict Verstappen, winner of four out of the past five on this modern classic .
Hermanos Rodriguez / Oct 30-Nov 1
Full of atmosphere – and track-limits fury. Expect an outbreak of Pérez fever as the crowd’s hero returns to the grid .
