The F1 Academy announces three races in Montreal and Austin

The war in the Middle East continues to reshuffle the motorsport calendar. The F1 Academy, which was due to travel to Saudi Arabia in support of the Formula 1[Name of organizer] announced the introduction of a new three-race weekend format for certain rounds of the 2026 season to compensate for the absence of the April round. Specifically, this new format will make its debut at the now second round of the championship, at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, before being used for a second and final time at the fifth round at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The stated goal is to restore a total of 14 races to the calendar.

This new feature is manifested by the addition of a "Opening Race"This new format complements the two existing formats—the reverse grid race and the main race—to form a trio already seen in the inaugural season. This opening race will take place early in the weekend's program and will award points for both the Drivers' and Teams' Championships, with an additional point given for the fastest lap.

The operation of the 3rd grid

The starting grid for this race will be determined by each driver's second-best qualifying time. This subtle detail adds a welcome tactical dimension: during the single 30-minute qualifying session, drivers will need to set not one, but two high-quality fast laps. This approach enriches strategic thinking in a series where driver development is central to the project. Beyond the calendar adjustment, the F1 Academy specifies that this three-race format may be used occasionally in future seasons, either to maintain consistency in the number of races from one year to the next, or to take advantage of additional slots available on certain Grand Prix weekends.

Susie WolffThe series' general manager welcomed an initiative that aligns with the desire to "Maximize competitive track time" for drivers whose sporting development is the top priority. Delphine Biscaye, head of race operations, emphasized the flexibility offered by this new format, which will allow for easier adjustments to any unforeseen scheduling changes in the future. The next event will be in Montreal, Canada, from May 22nd to 24th.

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