F1 Academy Introduces Three-Race Weekend Format at Select 2026 Rounds

F1 Academy will run a three-race weekend format at select rounds in 2026, adding an Opening Race to the existing structure and returning the calendar to 14 races after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was removed from the April schedule. The format debuts at Round 2 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal and returns at Round 5 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, introducing a second-fastest qualifying rule that directly changes how drivers approach the session.

Key Points: F1 Academy Opening Race

• A new Opening Race joins the Reverse Grid Race and Feature Race to create a three-race weekend at selected rounds.
• The Opening Race grid is set by each driver’s second fastest qualifying time from the sole 30-minute session.
• Full championship points are awarded for the Opening Race, including one point for Fastest Lap. No points are awarded for Pole Position.
• The format debuts at Montreal (Round 2) and returns at Austin (Round 5).
• The calendar returns to 14 races following the removal of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from the April schedule.
• The format also allows flexibility to replace a postponed race if required.

How The Three-Race Format Works

The new format introduces an Opening Race at the start of the weekend, alongside the existing Reverse Grid Race and Feature Race, creating a three-race structure at selected rounds.

Qualifying remains a single 30-minute session, but its role changes. The grid for the Opening Race is set using each driver’s second fastest lap rather than their outright quickest time. That forces drivers to deliver two clean laps instead of one, adding a layer of strategy around tyre usage, track position and run timing.

The Reverse Grid Race and Feature Race formats remain unchanged, meaning the weekend now builds across three distinct race scenarios rather than two. The Opening Race awards full championship points, including one point for fastest lap, but does not award points for pole position.

This format will be used where the schedule allows, giving the championship flexibility to maintain race count or make use of additional track time across a Grand Prix weekend.

What They Said

Susie Wolff said the new format reflects the series’ focus on maximising competitive track time for drivers.

“Introducing the Opening Race at select rounds underscores our commitment to building a platform where the most talented can thrive by maximising competitive track time. As F1 ACADEMY continues to grow on and off the track, I am continually looking for ways to elevate our race weekends. I’d like to thank our promoters for their support and enthusiasm for this dynamic new format, which will deliver additional on-track action in Montreal and Austin and provide a compelling schedule for fans and drivers alike.”

Delphine Biscaye added that the second fastest qualifying time rule introduces an additional strategic layer while maintaining sporting integrity.

“The Opening Race gives us an opportunity to evolve the race weekend while protecting the sporting integrity of the series. By setting the grid using each driver’s second fastest qualifying time, we’re adding another layer of strategy to the weekend. This approach also provides the flexibility to replace a postponed race if needed and allows us to make the most of any additional track time available on the Grand Prix weekend schedule.”

Coffee Corner Take

The second-fastest lap rule is the actual change here. Qualifying is no longer about delivering one clean lap. Drivers now need two, which immediately affects tyre usage, timing of runs and how much risk they can afford to take across the session. Burn a set early or get caught in traffic once, and it does not just compromise pole, it reshapes the entire Opening Race grid.

That shifts pressure onto both drivers and engineers. Track evolution becomes more important. Run plans become less predictable. It is a small regulatory tweak on paper, but it has a direct impact on how the session is driven.

This is also a smart long-term move for the series. F1 Academy now has a built-in mechanism to protect the calendar if a round gets cancelled. Saudi Arabia will not be the last time an event falls through. Having a format that can slot in at another venue and restore race count without scrambling the structure gives the series a resilience it did not have before. That kind of flexibility matters more than it looks.

Whether this expands beyond Montreal and Austin will depend on how it lands commercially, but the regulation itself is already built with flexibility. That suggests this is not a one-off experiment. It is a format the series is actively testing for wider use.