News Summary
- Formula 2 has expanded its Baku weekend to include two qualifying sessions, one Sprint and two Feature Races.
- CEO Bruno Michel said Azerbaijan is the only remaining weekend with enough space in the schedule to accommodate the additional sessions.
- Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain officially scheduled, although uncertainty over the two Middle Eastern rounds continues because of the regional geopolitical situation.
Formula 2 has announced an expanded format for the Azerbaijan round, adding a second qualifying session and an extra Feature Race to the Baku weekend as the 2026 championship enters its decisive phase.
The unusual format means drivers will have one Free Practice, two qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races from September 24-26.
F2 CEO Bruno Michel explained that the opportunity arose because the championship will be Formula 1’s only support category in Azerbaijan, creating enough room in the timetable for the additional sessions.
“As Formula 2 is the only support category at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, we have decided, together with the promoters, to run an extended F2 race weekend, with one Free Practice, two Qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races,” Michel said.
“This is the only weekend where the schedule allows for these additional sessions, which will further increase the level of entertainment for the spectators on site and all the fans.”
Michel also highlighted Baku’s reputation for unpredictable racing as a reason to embrace the one-off format.
“The Baku City Circuit always provides us with incredible racing, so we are very pleased to make Round 12 of our season something truly unique,” he added.
The format resembles the solution adopted by Formula 3 at Madrid, where an expanded weekend was used following the cancellation of the Bahrain round.
For F2, the additional Baku race arrives at a particularly important moment in the championship. Nikola Tsolov left Madrid still leading the standings, but Rafael Câmara closed to within seven points after the Feature Race.
The extra qualifying and Feature Race in Azerbaijan therefore increase the number of points available at a crucial stage of the title fight.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on F2 calendar
Despite the change in Baku, Formula 2 has not altered its plans for the final two rounds.
Michel explicitly said the championship currently expects to return to its standard weekend format for Qatar on November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi on December 4-6.
“After that, we will return to the usual race weekend format for the final two rounds of the 2026 season, which will take place in Doha and Yas Marina,” he said.
That is consistent with the current official F2 calendar, which continues to list Lusail as Round 13 and Yas Marina as Round 14.
However, whether those events ultimately take place remains uncertain because of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Formula 1 has yet to make a final decision on its Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, with the possibility that a definitive call could be delayed until October.
The uncertainty is particularly significant for Formula 2 because its calendar depends heavily on F1’s logistics. The potential loss of Qatar and Abu Dhabi had already created major uncertainty around the F2 championship, especially given how many points would disappear if both rounds were cancelled.
Imola has emerged as a possible contingency option for Formula 1’s season finale. Whether F2 could accompany F1 there would depend on logistical and infrastructure considerations.
For now, however, the official position is clear: Baku gets an expanded weekend, while Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the Formula 2 schedule.
FAQ
What is the new F2 format for Baku?
Formula 2 will hold one Free Practice, two qualifying sessions, one Sprint Race and two Feature Races during the Azerbaijan weekend on September 24-26.
Why has F2 added another race in Azerbaijan?
F2 is the only Formula 1 support category racing in Baku, leaving enough space in the timetable for additional qualifying and race sessions.
Are the Qatar and Abu Dhabi F2 rounds still happening?
Both remain officially on the 2026 F2 calendar. Qatar is scheduled for November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi for December 4-6, although the geopolitical situation has created uncertainty over whether the Middle Eastern events will ultimately go ahead.
Tags: Formula 2, Baku, Azerbaijan GP, F2
