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Formula 1 Grand Prix guide 2026: the 6 circuits still to come

In short

This guide runs through the 6 circuits still on the schedule after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort: Monza (Italy), the new street circuit in Madrid (Spain), Baku (Azerbaijan), Marina Bay (Singapore), the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (United States) and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. For each circuit you'll find the track length, the number of corners, the race dates and what makes the layout technically challenging for drivers and teams. Each circuit also gets a short, neutral betting angle without concrete odds figures. For the current championship standings and the full calendar we refer to the related wikis.

On this page

The 2026 Formula 1 season has just wrapped up its European races with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, also the final ever F1 race at that circuit. What remains is a series of six Grand Prix races that each demand a different kind of circuit: from the blisteringly fast Monza to the altitude of Mexico City, via the brand new street circuit in Madrid. This guide runs through the six remaining circuits in chronological order, with the key technical features, the track length and number of corners, what makes each circuit challenging for drivers and teams, and for each race a short, neutral betting angle without concrete odds figures. For the result and story of Zandvoort itself, we refer to the calendar and standings wikis.

In the championship standings after the Dutch Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) leads with 242 points, ahead of George Russell (183) and Lewis Hamilton (183). For the full, current standings we refer to the standings wiki.

Italy: Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Monza is known as the "Temple of Speed" and, at 5.793 kilometres with just 11 corners, is the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar. The layout consists largely of long straights (the Rettifilo Tribune at the start, the Curva Grande and the run-up to the Parabolica), interrupted by braking zones and chicanes such as the Variante Ascari and the Lesmo corners.

For teams this means a completely different setup than at most other circuits: minimal downforce to maximise top speed on the straights, which makes the cars less stable in the corners and under braking. Slipstreaming behind another car on the straights and perfectly timing an overtaking move in the braking zones are crucial here, and small differences in drag can have a bigger impact on lap time at Monza than at most other circuits. The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for 4-6 September 2026, one of the best-attended races of the season thanks to the passionate Tifosi lining the circuit in the Royal Park of Monza.

Betting angle: on a low-downforce circuit like Monza, engine power and efficient aerodynamics play a bigger role than at circuits with lots of corners, which sometimes exposes the differences between constructors more sharply.

Spain: Madrid (new street circuit)

From 2026, the Spanish Grand Prix gets a new home: a brand new street circuit around the IFEMA exhibition grounds in Madrid, which takes over from the long-standing home of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. The circuit is approximately 5.4 kilometres long and has 22 corners, with the most striking feature being a banked, semicircular corner comparable to an oval-track element.

For drivers and teams this is a unique challenge: there is no historical data from previous years to build on, the asphalt grip on a new street circuit usually changes significantly over the race weekend as more rubber goes down on the track, and the combination of narrow city sections with the banked corner requires a setup that has to work on multiple fronts. Simulator work and the first free practice sessions therefore carry extra weight in preparation. The weekend of 11-13 September 2026 marks Madrid's absolute Formula 1 debut as a Grand Prix city.

Betting angle: at a brand new circuit with no prior knowledge, the focus is usually on who adapts fastest to an unfamiliar track during free practice, rather than on pre-assessed favourites.

Azerbaijan: Baku City Circuit

The Baku City Circuit combines two extremes in a single 6.003-kilometre, 20-corner lap: a tight, twisting section around the old town and the citadel of Baku, followed by the longest straight on the entire F1 calendar, about 2.2 kilometres along the Baku Boulevard on the Caspian Sea.

That combination makes the circuit technically demanding. In the narrow city section, around the centuries-old walls of the citadel, there is barely any room for error, with concrete walls lining the track on both sides. On the long straight, the cars then reach their highest top speeds of the season, before having to brake hard for the sharp corner that follows, one of the toughest braking zones of the year for brakes and tyres. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled for 24-26 September 2026.

Betting angle: on street circuits with a long straight, it's often the driver who best balances attacking in the braking zone with limiting risk in the narrow, wall-lined sections who comes out on top.

Singapore: Marina Bay Street Circuit

The Marina Bay Street Circuit, at 4.940 kilometres with 19 corners, is the setting for the only full night race on the F1 calendar: the entire race is run under floodlights, against the Singapore skyline. The street circuit features many 90-degree corners in quick succession, which demands continuous concentration and precision.

Besides the technical layout, Singapore is notorious for the physical toll: the combination of high temperatures, extreme humidity and a race that, due to lower average speeds, lasts relatively long makes this one of the toughest races of the season for drivers. Cars and drivers noticeably lose moisture and weight during the race, and a loss of concentration is punished faster here than on a permanent circuit. For 2026 Singapore gets a sprint weekend for the first time, with sprint qualifying and a sprint race as extra programme items alongside the regular qualifying and race programme, scheduled for 9-11 October 2026.

Betting angle: on a physically tough street circuit with limited overtaking opportunities, the advantage often lies with whoever qualifies without mistakes and makes the best use of traction out of the many right-angle corners.

United States: Circuit of the Americas (Austin)

The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is a permanent circuit of 5.513 kilometres with 20 corners and, unlike many American circuits, significant elevation changes. The corner complex at the start of the lap climbs steeply and is partly inspired by elements of other classic circuits, followed by a long straight towards the braking section in the second part of the lap.

The alternation between fast, flowing corner combinations and heavy braking zones requires a car that stays stable at both high and low speed, a tricky balance for engineers to find. The elevation changes also mean that drivers can't always see a corner's apex clearly in some spots, which demands extra precision. The United States Grand Prix is scheduled for 23-25 October 2026 and is usually a busy weekend thanks to the accompanying music and festival programme around the circuit.

Betting angle: on a circuit with lots of speed changes and elevation, the difference is often made in the fine details of the setup, more so than at circuits with a distinctly one-sided character.

Mexico: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, at 4.304 kilometres with 17 corners, is not an extreme circuit in itself, but its location makes it unique: the circuit sits at an altitude of around 2,200 metres above sea level. Because of the thinner air at that altitude, engine cooling and aerodynamics behave differently than at almost any other circuit of the season.

The most famous part of the track is the closing section, where the cars enter the Foro Sol baseball stadium via a long straight, an impressive corner complex surrounded by thousands of spectators who see the cars pass by up close. The altitude also affects the drivers themselves: the thinner air requires adjusted breathing and concentration during the race. The Mexican Grand Prix is scheduled for 30 October to 1 November 2026, closing out the series of North American races.

Betting angle: the unusual altitude makes the engine and aerodynamic setup for Mexico hard to compare with other circuits, which can sometimes make the differences between teams play out surprisingly.

After Mexico City, Formula 1 travels on to Brazil/São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and closes the season with the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi. For the full overview of all remaining dates, we refer to the Formula 1 calendar wiki.

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Frequently asked questions

Which circuit is the fastest on the F1 calendar?
Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy is traditionally regarded as the fastest circuit of the season. Thanks to the long straights and the low-downforce setup teams use there, Monza produces the highest average lap speeds on the calendar.
Which circuit was the last Formula 1 race before the remaining six?
The Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort, held from 21 to 23 August 2026, was the last race before the six circuits in this guide. It was also the final ever F1 race at Zandvoort. You can read the full story of that race in our Formula 1 calendar and standings wiki.
What is a street circuit?
A street circuit is a racing circuit laid out on regular public roads in a city, rather than on a permanently built race track like Monza or Austin. Think of Baku, Singapore and the new circuit in Madrid. Street circuits usually have walls close to the track, less room for error, an asphalt surface that changes grip over the weekend, and often fewer overtaking opportunities than permanent circuits designed specifically for motor racing.
Which Grand Prix replaces Imola on the 2026 calendar?
The Spanish Grand Prix moves in 2026 to a brand new street circuit in Madrid, around the IFEMA exhibition grounds. This circuit takes the place of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which was previously held at Imola.
Why does the altitude of Mexico City matter for an F1 car?
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits at around 2,200 metres altitude. At that height the air is thinner, which affects engine cooling, the turbocharger and the amount of downforce the car's wings generate. Teams therefore have to set up their car specifically for Mexico.

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