Additional races scheduled in Austin and Montreal following Saudi cancellation.
Dubai: F1 Academy has added extra races to its upcoming events in Montreal and Austin to compensate for the round cancelled in Saudi Arabia.
The all-women series was impacted by Formula 1’s decision to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix scheduled for April, which included two support races in Saudi Arabia.
Montreal and Austin will now host three F1 Academy races each, instead of the usual two, to make up for the missed events.
F1 was forced to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, resulting in the cancellation of all support series events as well.
After kicking off its season in China last month, the F1 Academy had been scheduled to continue in Jeddah.
The all-female championship confirmed it will expand its usual two-race format in Canada (May 22–24) and the United States (October 23–25), bringing the season’s total back up to 14 races.
With the additional race, fans attending on Saturday at either event will get to watch two F1 Academy races.
Saturday’s schedule will feature the newly introduced “Opening Race” alongside the reverse-grid race, while the main feature race will continue to take place on Sunday as usual.
F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff said: “Introducing the Opening Race at select rounds highlights our commitment to providing a platform where the most talented drivers can thrive by maximising competitive track time.”
“As F1 Academy continues to grow both on and off the track, I am always looking for ways to enhance our race weekends. I’d like to thank our promoters for their support and enthusiasm for this dynamic new format, which will deliver extra on-track action in Montreal and Austin and create an exciting schedule for fans and drivers alike.”
Why can’t F1 do the same?
The announcement of F1 Academy adding extra races has sparked questions among fans about whether the main Formula 1 calendar could do something similar. With the all-female series expanding its weekend lineups in Montreal and Austin to compensate for a cancelled round in Saudi Arabia, many are asking why F1 itself cannot add races to make up for lost events.
However, F1 operates on a far larger and more complex scale than F1 Academy. Each F1 weekend includes multiple practice sessions, qualifying, and the main Grand Prix, with hundreds of team personnel and vast amounts of equipment moving across the globe. Adding an extra race to a single weekend would create significant logistical challenges, including tire and car management, staffing, and safety considerations.
Additionally, F1 is constrained by broadcasting contracts, sponsorship agreements, and sporting regulations, making sudden schedule changes challenging. Unlike F1 Academy, the main series cannot simply add an extra race without potentially affecting championship points, TV commitments, and contractual obligations.
As a result, F1 will likely maintain its 22-race calendar for the 2026 season, down from the originally planned 24, while F1 Academy can leverage its smaller scale to add races and restore its 14-event schedule.
