The 2026 F1 Racing Calendar
The F1 racing calendar for the 2026 World Championship promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent history. A total of 24 Grand Prix will take place across five continents with fresh technical regulations, new circuits and team line-ups to boot. Motorsport fans and bettors alike have a great deal to look forward to.
Here’s a detailed look at the F1 Racing Calendar 2026. We will look at where and correspondingly when each race takes place. This also includes an overview of the betting markets and Formula 1 odds along with a look into the 2026 teams & drivers.
2026 F1 Race Fixtures
The 2026 Formula 1 grand prix schedule stretches from early March through to early December. The season opens in Australia and closes in the Middle East, with sprint events on selected rounds. So let’s take a look at the upcoming Formula 1 2026 Race Calendar:
| Round | Date | Grand Prix |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | March 6–8 | Australian GP |
| Round 2 | March 13–15 | Chinese GP |
| Round 3 | March 27–29 | Japanese GP |
| Round 4 | April 10–12 | Bahrain GP |
| Round 5 | April 17–19 | Saudi Arabian GP |
| Round 6 | May 1–3 | Miami GP |
| Round 7 | May 22–24 | Canadian GP |
| Round 8 | June 5–7 | Monaco GP |
| Round 9 | June 12–14 | Spanish GP |
| Round 10 | June 26–28 | Austrian GP |
| Round 11 | July 3–5 | British GP |
| Round 12 | July 17–19 | Belgian GP |
| Round 13 | July 24–26 | Hungarian GP |
| Round 14 | August 21–23 | Dutch GP |
| Round 15 | September 4–6 | Italian GP |
| Round 16 | September 11–13 | Spanish GP (Street Circuit) |
| Round 17 | September 25–27 | Azerbaijan GP |
| Round 18 | October 9–11 | Singapore GP |
| Round 19 | October 23–25 | United States GP |
| Round 20 | October 30 – November 1 | Mexico GP |
| Round 21 | November 6–8 | Brazilian GP |
| Round 22 | November 19–21 | Las Vegas GP |
| Round 23 | November 27–29 | Qatar GP |
| Round 24 | December 4–6 | Abu Dhabi GP |
Furthermore, the Madrid race is a new addition to the Formula 1 Race Calendar in 2026, with a purpose built street circuit in Spain’s capital city.
Key Stops on the F1 Racing Calendar 2026
Albert Park, Melbourne: A track that combines scenic parklands with a high speed layout to kick the season off in style.
Suzuka Circuit, Japan: One of the most loved traditional tracks, known for its figure 8 layout as well as drama fuelled corners, like 130R.
Spa Francorchamps, Belgium: Legendary track with unpredictable weather and also popular sections like Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
Monaco, Monte Carlo: This is the jewel in the crown of F1, hosting a narrow and wildly winding street race with zero room for error.
Las Vegas Street Circuit: A relatively new addition with high speed as well as bright lights meandering through the famous Las Vegas strip.
Each venue offers its own unique challenges. Tyre strategy and car setup play a big part. Therefore for sports betting, there’s exciting markets like fastest F1 lap and race winner.
F1 Betting: Top Bookies & Markets
For fans keen on Formula 1 betting markets, there is certainly no shortage of exciting options to explore. In fact, as the F1 season builds momentum, more South African bookmakers continue to offer competitive F1 racing odds alongside a wide variety of betting opportunities. Whether you prefer backing outright race winners, pole positions, fastest laps, or constructor markets, you can easily find a platform that suits your style. Therefore, if you are looking to maximise value and enjoy smooth mobile betting, here are some of the best platforms you can explore:
10Bet: Great sports coverage including F1 coupled with other motorsport.
- Great Welcome Bonus
- Extensive sports markets
- Slots, Aviator and Live Games
BetOlimp: Provides excellent racing markets and consistently competitive odds. Therefore, it remains a solid choice for serious F1 punters looking for value.
- Good welcome bonus
- Great range of sports and markets
- User-friendly mobile site + app
World Sports Betting: Delivers reliable F1 markets and a user-friendly online betting experience. Furthermore, its strong local presence makes it a trusted option for South African motorsport fans.
- Great All Round Promotions
- Horse Racing Betting
- Live Games,Slots & Crash Games
Gbets: Continues to grow its Formula 1 coverage with competitive odds and easy-to-navigate betting markets. Furthermore, it offers a straightforward platform that suits both new and experienced bettors.
- 4 Dep. Matches up to R16 000
- Live In Multi Play View
- Slots, Live Casino & Aviator
Playbet: Combines solid F1 racing odds with fast registration and convenient payment options. As such, it remains an appealing option for punters who want quick access to Grand Prix action.
- Highly competitive odds
- Quick withdrawals
- Excellent Welcome Offer
Pantherbet: Expands its motorsport section with strong Formula 1 markets and reliable pricing. In addition, its clean interface makes placing pre-race and live bets simple and efficient.
- Wide sports coverage
- High-quality casino providers
- Good Choice of Promotions
Popular F1 Betting Markets
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or, conversely, new to Formula 1 betting markets, you’ll find plenty of exciting options to explore throughout the race weekend. From Friday practice sessions to Sunday’s chequered flag, every stage of a Grand Prix offers unique betting opportunities. Therefore, understanding the most popular F1 betting markets can help you make smarter, more strategic wagers.
Below, we break down the key markets every South African F1 punter should consider during the F1 Racing Calendar in 2026:
Race Winner
The Race Winner market remains the most popular and straightforward F1 betting option. Simply put, you predict which driver will win the Grand Prix on Sunday.
However, while it sounds simple, this market requires careful analysis. For example, you should consider qualifying results, track history, weather conditions, tyre strategy, and team performance. Street circuits like Monaco or Singapore often favour strong qualifiers, whereas tracks with long straights may benefit teams with superior straight-line speed.
As a result, many bettors wait until after qualifying before placing their race winner bets to get a clearer picture of potential outcomes.
Fastest F1 Lap
The Fastest Lap market adds extra excitement, especially during the final stages of a race. Here, you predict which driver will record the quickest lap time during the Grand Prix.
Importantly, this market often depends on race strategy. Drivers who pit late for fresh tyres, particularly if they are outside podium contention, frequently push for the fastest lap. Consequently, savvy bettors watch race developments closely before placing live bets on this market.
Because of its unpredictable nature, the Fastest Lap market can also offer attractive odds.
Podium Finish
The Podium Finish market allows you to back a driver to finish in the top three, regardless of whether they win the race.
Therefore, this option provides slightly less risk than betting on an outright winner. For instance, if a dominant team looks set for a strong weekend but internal competition remains tight, backing either driver for a podium can be a smart move.
Moreover, this market becomes especially appealing during tightly contested seasons where multiple teams regularly challenge for top-three finishes.
Qualifying Position
The Qualifying Position market focuses on Saturday’s all-important grid-setting session. Here, you can bet on where a driver will qualify or even who will secure pole position.
Since clean air plays a massive role in modern Formula 1, starting position often determines race outcomes. Consequently, many bettors analyse practice session pace and historical qualifying data before placing wagers.
Additionally, this market offers head-to-head options, where you simply choose which of two drivers will qualify ahead of the other. These bets can be particularly valuable when teammates have closely matched pace.
Championship Winner
The Championship Winner market is a long-term outright bet on who will be crowned Formula 1 World Champion at the end of the season.
Unlike race-by-race betting, this market requires patience and strategic thinking. You must evaluate driver consistency, team reliability, car development pace, and mid-season upgrades. Furthermore, injuries, penalties, and regulation changes can dramatically shift championship momentum.
Because Formula 1 odds fluctuate throughout the season, many experienced punters place early bets for higher value and then hedge later in the year if necessary.
Teams and Drivers on the 2026 Grid
The 2026 season features 11 teams with the arrival of Cadillac as a new constructor. This should add much more depth to the midfield and create more closely fought battles throughout the F1 racing calendar.
- Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen / Isack Hadjar.
- Ferrari: Charles Leclerc / Lewis Hamilton.
- Mclaren: Lando Norris / Oscar Piastri.
- Mercedes F1: George Russel / Kimi Antonelli.
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso / Lance Stroll.
- Williams: Alexander Albon / Carlos Sainz.
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly / Franco Colapinto.
- Audi: Nico Hulkenburg / Gabriel Bortoleto.
- Haas: Esteban Ocon / Oliver Bearman.
- Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson / Arvid Lindblad.
- Cadillac: Sergio Perez / Valtteri Bottas.
This mix of champions, race winners and rookies will make sure that nearly every round of the Formula 1 grand prix fixtures brings about renewed interest and fresh betting angles.
What Makes 2026 a Must Watch Season
With new teams, new venues and new regulations, the F1 racing calendar 2026 offers one of the most unpredictable seasons in years. For fans that diarise the F1 calendar, plan bets around the F1 schedule or analyse long term Formula 1 odds, this season is sure to deliver opportunities from start to finish.
Ultimately, Formula 1 offers one of the most dynamic betting environments in global sport. Not only can you bet on outright race winners, but you can also explore strategy-driven markets like fastest lap and qualifying outcomes. Therefore, whether you prefer short-term race bets or long-term championship wagers, F1 provides thrilling opportunities from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi.
As always, compare odds across South Africa’s top sportsbooks and look out for boosted markets and race weekend specials to maximise your returns. For more info on the regulations changes have a look at our The Countdown to the Formula 1 2026.
