F2 Replaces Bahrain and Saudi Races with New North American Rounds in Miami and Montreal
F2 has swiftly added Miami and Montreal to its 2026 calendar, replacing canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This historic move brings the championship to North America for the first time, ensuring a full 14-race season and expanding the series' global reach on high-profile F1 weekends.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship has replaced its canceled rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with first-ever races in North America, joining the Formula 1 weekends in Miami and Montreal to restore its 2026 calendar to 14 events. This swift move fills the early-season gap and marks a historic expansion for the primary feeder series to F1.
Why it matters:
This pivot is significant for both the stability of the F2 season and the series' global growth strategy. Securing slots on two high-profile F1 weekends in key markets ensures commercial and sporting continuity for teams and drivers after unexpected cancellations. More broadly, it represents F2's long-awaited formal entry into the crucial North American motorsport market, increasing its visibility and aligning its footprint more closely with F1's commercial strategy.
The details:
- The new rounds slot into the calendar as Round 2 in Miami (May 1-3) and Round 3 in Montreal (May 22-24), directly replacing the lost April events in Sakhir and Jeddah.
- F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali framed the changes positively, noting it was "great news for our fans, the drivers and the teams" while expressing a desire to return to the Middle Eastern venues in the future.
- FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized that the additions keep the championship "strong and balanced" despite the early-season disruption.
- F2 CEO Bruno Michel confirmed the North American expansion was a long-term goal, stating, "It’s something we have been wanting to do for a long time, and it enables us to ensure we’re back racing as quickly as possible."
- The series will utilize the standard F2 weekend format at these events, providing a direct comparison for F1 teams evaluating junior talent on tracks where F1 also competes.
What's next:
While F2's schedule is now resolved, questions remain for other FIA feeder series. Formula 3, which lost its planned round in Bahrain, has not yet announced a replacement event. In a separate adjustment, the all-female F1 Academy series has revised its weekend format to include three races at select events, including Montreal and Austin, to maintain its total race count after losing its Saudi Arabian round. The F2 championship continues with Nikola Tsolov leading the standings after the season opener in Australia.