SOME much-loved European Grands Prix face the prospect of hosting races on a rotational basis sooner rather than later.
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali teased that he “had some news to share” as a few European circuits prepare to learn their fate.
Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that plans are in place to make a controversial change to the F1 race calendar
A host of European tracks will lose their year-by-year right to hold races
A selection of Europe’s finest tracks might be forced to hold races on a bi-annual basis, starting in 2026.
Domenicali has revealed that some events will have to forego their year-by-year pattern with another event.
With a record-breaking 24 rounds already crammed onto the F1 calendar, the scope for adding new venues is now arguably smaller than ever.
The former Lamborghini CEO said: “We have some news to share very, very soon with regard to the possibility in the mid-term to have some rotational European Grand Prix and some other new options coming later.
“This is something that, of course, we will clarify in the due course. It is true that we have a large demand of new possible venues that want to come in.
“We believe that the balance we have in terms of numbers [of races] is the right one, so 24 is the balanced number that we feel is right.
“I do believe that all the propositions that are coming on our table are giving us the possibility to make even better choices for our future.”
Many of the European circuits are some of the most popular on the calendar, with the Belgian, Italian and British Grands Prix high on the list of the most exciting races each season.
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F1 now spans across four different continents, with the FIA keen to further grow the sport’s presence in the United States with three races – in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas – currently held there.
There are also talks about a further race in South America and a return to South Africa for the first time since 1993.
Rwanda have also pleaded for the chance to host a Grand Prix.
Representatives of the Rwanda Development Board travelled to Monaco earlier this year to meet with the FIA.
In fact, seven-time world champ Lewis Hamilton stressed that F1 can not continue to “ignore Africa”.
Monaco is also up for renewal after 2025 but a rotational option for the famed principality race is thought to be unlikely.
Zandvoort in the Netherlands has long been linked with a rotational deal with Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Zandvoort could also swap yearly with Barcelona – while Monza and Imola in Italy might share hosting duties for the Italian Grand Prix.
Madrid joins the calendar in 2026 with a city street circuit, while races at Silverstone, Budapest and Austria have long-term deals into the 2030s.
And fans are largely less than happy with the proposals.
Taking to X one wrote: “It’s the start. Classic staple F1 tracks will be replaced by soulless street circuits that have the biggest wallets.”
A second added: “Rotate the street tracks, these cars are not made for narrow street circuits!”
A third said: “That actually makes a championship harder. There’s removed predictability of development.”
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