FIA Formula 3 Unveils 2026 Calendar Featuring New Madrid Finale

The FIA Formula 3 Championship has today revealed its ten-round calendar for the 2026 season, maintaining its crucial role as a primary support series for Formula 1 and Formula 2. The schedule, approved by the FIA World Motorsport Council, will see the future stars of motorsport compete across three continents, culminating in a first-ever visit to Madrid, Spain. The 2026 campaign is set to commence in early March alongside the Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne, Australia. The series will then head to the Middle East for a round at the Bahrain International Circuit in mid-April before returning to Europe. June will be a busy month for the grid, starting with the prestigious street circuit of Monte Carlo, Monaco. This will be followed by races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, later in the month. July features rounds at iconic venues Silverstone in the UK, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and the Hungaroring near Budapest, Hungary. Following the traditional summer break, the championship will resume with back-to-back races. The historic Monza circuit in Italy will host the penultimate round in early September before the season concludes with a significant new addition: the streets of Madrid, Spain, which will host the final event of the 2026 season. Series leaders have expressed strong enthusiasm for the unveiled calendar and the continued importance of Formula 3 within the single-seater pathway. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1's President and CEO, highlighted the quality of racing and the emergence of new talent, noting how the series effectively prepares drivers for the higher echelons of motorsport through challenging events alongside F1. He commended the efforts of the teams and organisers in fostering driver development. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed these sentiments, emphasizing F3's fundamental role in shaping the sport's future. He described the 2026 calendar as a blend of traditional and innovative circuits, with Madrid representing an exciting new chapter. He reiterated that supporting F1 and F2 solidifies F3's position as a key showcase for global talent. FIA Formula 3 CEO Bruno Michel underlined that the championship provides the ideal training ground for aspiring F1 drivers, citing the large number of F3 graduates progressing to Formula 2. He stated that the ten-round, twenty-race format strikes a good balance between racing on prominent F1 tracks and managing costs. Michel also mentioned the successful introduction of the new F3 car in 2025 and expressed anticipation for seeing the field race at the new Madrid venue. The ten-round schedule provides a comprehensive test for drivers and teams, featuring a mix of permanent circuits and street tracks designed to challenge technical skills and physical endurance. The addition of Madrid for the season finale marks a notable development, bringing the competitive F3 action to a new Spanish location as the championship determines its champion in September 2026.