F1 Reveals Six 2026 Sprint Venues; Albon Opens Up on Lessons from Verstappen

Formula 1 has officially announced the six venues set to host Sprint weekends in the 2026 season. Simultaneously, Williams driver Alex Albon has offered revealing insights into his past teammateship with Max Verstappen, detailing the profound impact the three-time world champion had on his racing philosophy and car setup.

The Big Picture: 2026 F1 Sprint Calendar Revealed

F1 confirmed the six circuits chosen to host Sprint race weekends for the upcoming 2026 season.

The Details: Sprint Venues

• The designated locations are: China, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Singapore.
• The Netherlands will feature for its final time on the Sprint calendar before exiting.
• Singapore's Sprint event is slated for the weekend of October 9-11.

Why it Matters: Albon's Revelation on Verstappen

Alex Albon, currently enjoying a career resurgence with Williams, has shed light on the invaluable lessons gleaned from his time alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, underscoring how Verstappen's approach continues to shape his own driving and car development.

Key Takeaways: Albon on Verstappen's Influence

• During an appearance on the "P1 with Matt and Tommy" podcast, Albon shared that while focusing on his own performance, he gained a deep understanding of Verstappen's exceptional pace and aggressive car setup strategies.
• He specifically mentioned adopting a more aggressive car setup for his Williams, inspired by Verstappen, to extract quicker lap times.
• Albon and Verstappen were teammates for the latter half of the 2019 season and all of 2020.
• Despite a challenging departure from Red Bull, Albon has successfully rebuilt his career at Williams, now sitting seventh in the 2025 drivers’ standings, notably ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.