F1 Considers Major Format Changes for 2026: Practice, Qualifying, and Race Duration Tweaks

Formula 1 is actively evaluating several significant changes to its race weekend formats, including proposals to adjust practice sessions, qualifying structure, and potentially standardize race durations. These discussions come as the sport prepares for the introduction of all-new car and power unit regulations in 2026, signaling a potential overhaul of both technical and sporting aspects.

Why it matters:

After years of relatively stable sporting regulations, these proposed changes suggest F1 is looking to proactively enhance the viewing experience and address current operational challenges. Tweaks to practice could ensure fairer preparation for teams, qualifying revisions aim to improve safety and flow with more cars, and standardized race lengths could benefit broadcasters and fans alike, aligning with F1's broader strategy to maximize its global appeal.

The Details:

• Sprint Weekend Practice Red Flag Tweak: Teams often face limited practice time on sprint weekends, further exacerbated by red flag interruptions. A proposal suggests adding lost time back to the end of practice sessions during sprint weekends, up to a maximum of 15 minutes. This ensures teams can complete their planned run programs.
  • Logistical Consideration: The FIA would need to manage the current gap stipulation between practice and sprint qualifying (2.5 to 3.5 hours), though current schedules often allow for this flexibility.
• Qualifying Session Revisions: With Cadillac joining as the 11th team in 2026, the qualifying format will already change to accommodate two extra cars (six eliminations in Q1 and Q2). Concerns about increased traffic and drivers running out of time during laps have led to a proposal.
  • Extended Segments: One idea is to add an extra one to two minutes to Q1 and/or Q2 (currently 18 and 15 minutes, respectively). This would alleviate congestion without extending the overall one-hour qualifying duration by reducing the gaps between sessions.
• Standardized Race Duration: F1 races currently adhere to a distance rule (305km/190 miles, 260km/162 miles for Monaco), leading to significant variation in total race time (e.g., Monza: 1h 13m vs. Singapore: 1h 40m).
  • Broadcaster Benefit: Discussions are underway to explore standardizing the time duration of races to fall within a similar window. This would simplify packaging for broadcasters and provide more predictable content lengths.
  • Previous Resistance: Earlier proposals to shorten races were not widely supported, so the appetite for this standardized time format remains uncertain.

What's next:

These proposals were recently discussed at a Sporting Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting and are slated for further debate at an upcoming Formula 1 Commission meeting. If the F1 Commission, comprising teams, the FIA, and FOM, fully supports any of these ideas, they could be fast-tracked for implementation into the 2026 regulations. However, it's also possible they could be shelved for future consideration, as the sport prioritizes the new technical regulations.