Changes, major shake-up in F1 2026: new dates, Colapinto on alert | OneFootball

Formula 1 is going through one of its most delicate reshuffles in recent years.

The cancellation of the Middle East rounds forced the series and the FIA to rethink a calendar that was already stretched to the limit, with a packed second half of the season and very little room for changes.

Bahrain gains ground and Saudi Arabia pushes

According to RacingNews365, the Bahrain Grand Prix is emerging as the most viable option to return. The date being considered is October 4, strategically placed between Azerbaijan and Singapore. This is no minor detail: logistics play a decisive role and, in this case, the fact that the operation would be simpler than at other destinations gives it a clear advantage in the middle of a demanding run of races.

However, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is not giving up on being left out and is pushing hard to be reinserted into the calendar on December 6.

The proposal has not gone unnoticed, since it would mean a season finale as unprecedented as it is demanding, with four consecutive Grands Prix: Las Vegas, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. From an operational standpoint it is possible, but human fatigue appears as one of the main concerns within the teams, which are already dealing with an intense calendar as it is.

Amid this changing scenario, Argentine driver Franco Colapinto is closely following every move. The young driver is coming off an outstanding performance at the Miami Grand Prix, where he finished seventh with Alpine, scoring important points and establishing himself as one of the season’s breakout stars. For him, any change to the calendar also represents an opportunity in a key year for his future.

Millions at stake and a calendar on hold

In this context, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains an immovable piece. Scheduled for December 13, it has a contract that places it as the final race of the championship, limiting any attempt to reorganize the ending without creating contractual conflicts.

The financial factor also plays a key role in this story. Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have already paid their hosting rights, with figures around £100 million. That money, paid in advance, increases the pressure for at least one of the two venues to regain its place and avoid significant losses without having held its event.

Despite all the sporting, logistical and financial variables, there is one element that ends up being decisive: the geopolitical situation in the region. Without security guarantees, any planning depends on how the conflict in the Middle East evolves. That is why both the FIA and Formula 1 are allowing for a waiting period that would extend until mid-August before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, the 2026 calendar remains open, with multiple possible scenarios. From a partial reshuffle with the return of one of these races, to a deeper cut that reduces the total number of Grands Prix.

In a championship where every detail is planned down to the millimeter, this time uncertainty dominates the scene and forces Formula 1 to run a different race, off the track and against the clock.

The next race will be the Canadian GP, from May 22 to 24.

Full 2026 F1 calendar: when is the next GP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.