Confirmed
Baku to host extra F2 Race amid calendar uncertainty
Formula 2 confirms an additional feature race in Baku, making it a "supersized" weekend, as final rounds face potential cancellation.
Formula 2 has confirmed an additional feature race for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. This development comes amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the 2026 Formula 1 calendar’s concluding rounds.
Supersized Baku Weekend
The 12th round of the 2026 Formula 2 season in Baku will now include an extra qualifying session and a second feature race. Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel stated this makes it a “supersized” weekend format. The schedule will feature one Free Practice session, two Qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race, and two Feature Races. Michel indicated that Baku was the only venue where the timetable allowed for these additional sessions. He also noted that the Baku City Circuit consistently provides exciting racing.
Formula 2 stated it will revert to its standard race weekend format for the final two rounds of the 2026 season. These are planned for Doha and Yas Marina.
Calendar Adjustments and Championship Implications
Crash.net reported that the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend already features an adjusted schedule. The F1 race has moved from Sunday to Saturday to avoid conflict with Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day on September 27. Consequently, the entire program, including Formula 2’s sessions, has shifted forward by one day. Practice sessions will occur on Thursday, followed by final practice and qualifying on Friday, with the Grand Prix on Saturday.
There is increasing speculation within the F1 paddock that the final two F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi may be cancelled. Crash.net suggested Imola could host the season finale on December 6 as a contingency. Should the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds be cancelled, the conclusion of the Formula 2 season could be affected. Formula 2 could potentially race at Imola alongside F1, though its feasibility is yet to be confirmed. Nikola Tsolov, a Red Bull junior, currently leads the Formula 2 standings with 167 points. Gabriel Minì is second with 147 points, followed by Rodin Motorsport's Franco Colapinto (incorrectly stated in source as Rafa Câmara) with 145 points. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is fourth with 108 points. The potential for the championship to be decided without on-track action is a concern unless official communications are made before the Baku event.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Miika Rantanen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Crash.netcrash.net
