Connect with us

Motorsports

Madrid Shift: F1 Adds New Circuit to 2026 Calendar

Published

on

A pack of Formula One cars battles for position at the start of a Grand Prix race. Leading the group are McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes cars, followed closely by Ferrari, Aston Martin, and other teams. The cars are on a wide tarmac track with red and white curbs, under bright daylight.

Madrid to Join F1 Circuit as Formula One Unveils 2026 Race Calendar

Formula One is set to shake up its race calendar in 2026, announcing a new Grand Prix in Madrid while retaining the long-standing race in Barcelona—meaning Spain will now host two events in a single season.

A Ferrari Formula One car, driven by Charles Leclerc (#16), speeds through a tight corner on a street circuit. The front wheels are lifted slightly off the ground as the car clips the red and yellow curb. Track marshals and photographers watch from behind safety barriers.
Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the second practice session for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco, on May 23, 2025, two days ahead of the race. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)

The 2026 season, unveiled Tuesday, will open in Melbourne, Australia, from March 6 to 8. The new Madrid Grand Prix, scheduled for September 11 to 13, will close out the European leg of the season. Unlike traditional circuits, the Madrid layout will mix street and non-street sections, bringing a fresh dynamic to the series.

A McLaren Formula One car, painted in striking orange and black, navigates a high-speed corner on a racetrack with red and white curbs. The car is low to the ground, hugging the apex with precision.
McLaren’s Australian driver Oscar Piastri competes in the qualification session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, on the outskirts of Barcelona, during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix on May 31, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

The full calendar spans 24 race weekends, wrapping up in Abu Dhabi on December 4 to 6. To streamline travel logistics, organizers have reshuffled some dates, with the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal now following Miami in May.

A Formula One driver wearing a colorful helmet and a black Mercedes-AMG Petronas racing suit walks through the pit lane. The helmet features vibrant red, green, and blue accents along with sponsor logos. The background shows blurred team personnel and garage equipment.
Mercedes’ Italian driver Kimi Antonelli walks back through the pit lane after crashing during qualifying for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / POOL / AFP)

Next year’s season is expected to mark a transformative chapter for the sport. Alongside the debut of the Cadillac team—raising the total to 11—Formula One will also adopt major rule changes in car aerodynamics and power unit design.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the changes represent a “significant new chapter” in Formula One, with new races, new teams, and new manufacturers signaling a new era of innovation and competition.

2026 Formula One Calendar Highlights:

  • Season Opener: March 6–8 – Melbourne, Australia
  • Midseason Europe: June 12–14 – Barcelona, Spain | September 11–13 – Madrid, Spain
  • Triple USA Stops: Miami (May 1–3), Austin (Oct 23–25), Las Vegas (Nov 19–21)
  • Season Finale: December 4–6 – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsports

Marquez Hunts First Spielberg Win

Published

on

Marc Marquez leads a rival through a sharp corner during MotoGP practice at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Spielberg, Austria | Marc Marquez returned from MotoGP’s mid-season break showing no signs of slowing down, setting the pace in Friday’s practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring.

The six-time MotoGP champion, who has already racked up five straight victories this season, is chasing more than just another win. Marquez has never triumphed in Austria, a rare blank spot in his decorated career.

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez drives during the practice of motorcycle Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Jure Makovec)

“I’ve been super close here many years,” Marquez said. “I always lose against the red bikes—but now I’m on the red bike, so let’s see if we can finally do it.”

Red Bull KTM Tech3 team’s Italian MotoGp rider Enea Bastianini rides through the gravel trap as he competes during the practice of motorcycle Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Jure Makovec)

Now riding for Ducati’s factory team, Marquez has looked nearly untouchable, completing five consecutive weekends with both sprint and race wins. He leads the championship by a commanding 120 points over his younger brother Alex Marquez, who races with Ducati’s Gresini satellite outfit.

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team’s Portuguese MotoGP rider Miguel Oliveira reacts after crashing during the practice of motorcycle Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Jure Makovec)

Alex sits second in the standings, holding a 48-point cushion over Francesco Bagnaia, last year’s champion and a specialist in Austria with three consecutive wins at Spielberg. But the younger Marquez faces an uphill task this Sunday after being handed a long-lap penalty for his collision with Honda’s Joan Mir in Brno.

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez drives during the practice session of motorcycle Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Jure Makovec)

“The challenge will be to do a perfect weekend and lose the least time on the long lap,” Alex admitted. “We need to qualify well and try to make up ground before the penalty.”

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez drives during the first free practice of motorcycle Austrian Moto GP Grand Prix at the Red Bull ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Jure Makovec)

Friday’s action confirmed Marc’s dominance, topping the morning session by three-tenths of a second over Bagnaia, and edging KTM’s Pedro Acosta by two-tenths in the afternoon. Qualifying takes place Saturday, followed by a 14-lap sprint. The main 28-lap race happens Sunday.

Meanwhile, Honda LCR’s Somkiat Chantra will sit out both Austria and Hungary. The Thai rider underwent surgery for ligament damage in his right knee, an injury sustained during training after the Dutch round. He has already missed races in Germany and Brno.

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Fast and Fearless Bo Turbo Scooter Aims for 160 km/h Record

Published

on

Rider in full racing gear riding a high-performance Bo Turbo electric scooter at high speed on a race track.

“Imagine a scooter faster than your car—160 km/h on EDSA. Would you ride it, or would you run from it?”
If this hits our roads, it’s either the coolest thing you’ll see this year… or the quickest way to trend on Facebook for all the wrong reasons.

UK-based Bo is building the Bo M Turbo, an electric scooter aiming to break the world speed record at over 160 km/h. That’s faster than most cars in Metro Manila traffic—if you can even reach full throttle before hitting a jeepney.

The Turbo packs a 24kW dual-motor system, a 1.8kWh battery, Formula 1-inspired cooling, and quad-piston disc brakes. It even has a power-to-weight ratio higher than a Bugatti Veyron.

Bo’s team includes former Formula 1 and Bloodhound Land Speed Record engineers. They’re taking the Turbo to Bonneville Speed Week in Utah to prove it’s the fastest scooter in the world.

Built for Speed, Priced for the Rich

  • Top speed: 160+ km/h
  • Range: Up to 241 km at cruising speed (28 km/h)
  • Price: Around $29,500 (~₱1.7M)

Not exactly a GrabBike replacement—this is for someone with a Mercedes-AMG in the garage who wants a smaller toy.

The Cheaper Option

Bo also sells the Model M for about ₱94,000, with a 35 km/h top speed and 48 km range. Good for city commutes without scaring pedestrians.

Would you ride a 160 km/h scooter in Manila, or should it stay on the race track?

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Palou Seals Third Straight IndyCar Crown

Published

on

Alex Palou celebrates in victory lane wearing a champion’s cap and floral wreath, standing beside the Borg-Warner Trophy after winning the Indianapolis 500.

Spain’s Alex Palou clinched his third consecutive IndyCar season title — and fourth in five years — after finishing third at the Portland Grand Prix on Sunday. The race win went to Australia’s Will Power, with Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard in second.

Alex Palou, driver of the #10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, poses for a photo during the winner’s photo shoot for the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running Of The Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo by James Gilbert / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images)

Palou joins Ted Horn, Sébastien Bourdais, and Dario Franchitti as the only drivers in series history to win three straight championships. The 28-year-old now sits third on the all-time title list, behind A.J. Foyt’s 10 and Scott Dixon’s six.

Devlin DeFrancesco, driver of the #30 Dogecoin Honda, drives during the NTT IndyCar Series109th Running Of The Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo by James Gilbert / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images)

“This has been an amazing season, an amazing five years with Chip Ganassi Racing,” Palou said. “I couldn’t be happier. I tried everything to overtake Lundgaard but couldn’t make it today.”

With 626 points — 151 clear of Pato O’Ward — Palou secured the title with two races left. O’Ward’s hopes ended early after an electrical failure on lap 21 left him eight laps down, forcing him to settle for 25th place, his worst finish of the season.

Alex Palou, driver of the #10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, poses for a photo with Honda HRC Engineers during the winner’s photo shoot for the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running Of The Indianapolis 500 (Photo by James Gilbert / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images)

Palou’s 2025 campaign has delivered eight wins, including the Indianapolis 500, and he still has a chance to match the single-season record of 10 victories with Milwaukee and Nashville remaining.

Power’s triumph was his second straight and 45th career win. “It’s a big win for the team. We’ve had a rough year, but this one was hard-fought,” he said.

Continue Reading

Trending