One of these three races won’t be on next year’s F1 calendar · RaceFans

The 2025 Formula 1 season is still weeks away but next year’s grand prix schedule is close to being finalised.

Yesterday F1 announced it had reached a new deal with the Belgian Grand Prix promoters to return to Spa-Francorchamps next year.

With a new race in Madrid due to join the schedule next year, that means 22 of the 24 slots on the 2026 F1 calendar have been accounted for. Three races on the current schedule are yet to ink deals for next season. So which of them is most at risk of missing out?

Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Imola

Carlos Sainz Jnr, Ferrari, Imola, 2024 — Imola’s F1 future looks shaky

The Covid-19 pandemic handed many European venues an opportunity to temporarily join the F1 calendar. The Nurburgring, Autodromo do Algarve and Mugello all temporarily hosted races.

But only Imola successfully used its race as a platform to secure a longer-term deal beyond the disrupted 2020 and 2021 seasons. F1 handed it a deal to host races until at least this year.

As a result Italy now has two rounds of the world championship, as it previously did between 1981 and 2006. But that may not last.

Italy’s other F1 venue, Monza, has heritage on its side. It has only been absent from the F1 calendar once since the world championship began. Monza will continue to hold races until at least 2031 having extended its deal last year.

But what of Imola? Its 2023 race did not go ahead due to flooding, and the promoters were hopeful that would entitle them to a place on the 2026 calendar. That is yet to be confirmed, however.

Beyond that, a possibility exists for Imola to return as a part-time race. Yesterday Formula One Management announced the Belgian Grand Prix will only be held in odd-numbered years from 2027, leaving open the possibility F1 could return to Imola in 2028 and 2030.

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Mexican Grand Prix, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024 — There won’t be a home driver on the Mexican Grand Prix grid this year

Red Bull’s decision to drop Sergio Perez was a blow to the promoters of the Mexican Grand Prix, as there will not be a home driver on the grid for this year’s race. It remains to be seen how significantly the loss of Perez will affect ticket sales for the race, as F1 has had at least one Mexican driver in its field every year since the race returned to the F1 calendar in 2015 after a 23-year absence.

Given the loss of a ‘banker’ star draw such as Perez, it would be no surprise if the promoters got cold feet about the costs of bringing F1 back. They have other options to showcase local talent in top-level series: NASCAR will race at the track for the first time in June, bringing Mexican Daniel Suarez. IndyCar has raced there before and would bring Monterrey’s Pato O’Ward if they return.

However there is one key factor in the race’s favour if they hope to continue hosting F1. Claudia Sheinbaum, who helped agree the last deal to keep the race going when she was mayor of Mexico City, was elected the country’s president in October.

Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas Strip Circuit

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Las Vegas Strip Circuit, 2024 — F1’s blast down the Las Vegas Strip looks here to stay

The Las Vegas Strip Circuit does not officially have a deal in place for F1 to continue racing in 2026, but there are few obstacles to the event securing a contract extension. After all, this is the only round of the world championship promoted by Formula One Management itself.

F1 announced a three-year deal for the race beginning in 2023. However the city later gave F1 permission to continue using the public roads it requires for its races until at least 2032. This approval is only granted for “the week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday in November”, so the race will continue to be held in the same calendar slot.

It would therefore be a surprise to see the Las Vegas Grand Prix drop from the calendar. Although there is some local pressure from businesses who are unhappy about the disruption it causes, it is not likely to jeopardise a contract extension for a race F1 has invested significant sums in launching.

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25 races?

There is an alternative to F1 getting rid of one of these races: It could extend the calendar yet again.

Formula One Management CEO Stefano Domenicali has repeatedly stated he does not wish to go beyond 24 races. But the F1 calendar has been extended so many times in the past it would be foolish to rule out the possibility it could happen again.

The various agreements which bind FOM, the FIA and the teams are up for renewal at the end of this year, so the opportunity for the calendar to be expanded beyond the current maximum exists.