Following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix’, Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 Formula 2 Championship will now be held in North America.
Following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Formula 2 has been forced to adapt its early-season calendar. After the rescheduling of the F1 Academy calendar last week, Formula 2 have also announced that Miami and Montreal will be included in their revised calendar.
The North America Debut
Formula 2’s North American debut comes at a time when Formula 1’s popularity in the region is rapidly growing, driven by an expanding fanbase and increased race presence. The Miami International Autodrome is now home to Round 2 of the 2026 F2 Championship. After a successful feeder series stint last year with F1 Academy, F2 will makes it debut in the United States. The Circuit has proved its ability to host a FIA feeder series and will host F2 on the 1st – 3rd of May.
The 5.4km Circuit, which has 19 corners and three straights will provide similar racing to Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit. The combination of long straights and technical sections is expected to create strong overtaking opportunities. However, the junior drivers will need to manage tyre degradation, particularly with the high temperatures known to Miami.
Following Miami, Formula 2 will follow F1 up to Montreal for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Racing at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, F2 will join F1 Academy for a double Feeder Series weekend. The Circuit, which is known for its iconic Wall of Champions, heavy-braking and high speed straights has 14 corners. .
Formula 2 will race in Canada from the 22nd – 24th of May for Round 3 before returning to Europe. Racing in Canada will offer crucial track time for the feeder series drivers, helping them develop race craft, adaptability, and confidence at one of Formula 1’s most demanding circuits
Why Was Rescheduling Important?
Rescheduling these races is particularly important for junior drivers. Junior drivers rely heavily on consistent track time to develop their skills across limited race weekends. With both race rounds and in-season testing cancelled, valuable opportunities for learning, adaptation, and racecraft are lost. Extended gaps in the calendar can disrupt momentum and slow driver progression. Replacement races are essential to ensure continued development and maintain the competitive rhythm of the championship.
In the announcement, FIA Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel praised all involved for ensuring the Rounds 2 and 3 weren’t lost.
“…bringing F2 to North America for the first time is really fantastic. It’s something we have been wanting to do for a long time. It enables us to ensure we’re back racing as quickly as possible. I am certain that the quality of racing will bring a lot of excitement to the fans attending both Grands Prix.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali echoed Michel’s statement,
“Bruno and the whole F2 family have done a great job. Working closely with us, the FIA, and the Miami and Montreal promoters, to ensure we limit the gap in racing for the championship this season and I want to thank them for making this possible”
The 2026 Season So Far…
Following the opening round of the 2026 F2 Championship in Melbourne, Nikola Tsolov after claiming Feature Race victory. Behind him, fellow rookie Rafael Camara and Laurens van Hoepen both sit on 18 points. While in the Teams Championship, Campos Racing leads the way with 33 points, followed by Invicta and Hitech. American rookie Colton Herta will be aiming to bounce back on home soil in Miami. The Cadillac test driver is currently tenth in the standings on six points.
Feature Image Credit: Formula 2