The Formula 1 calendar has developed into 24 races, and the 2024 season was the longest campaign in the championship’s history.
An F1 season is very demanding as there are an increasing amount of triple headers and races outside of Europe, where all 10 teams have bases. The consecutive race weekends, particularly, are taxing on the drivers and mechanics.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted at a potential shake-up of the calendar heading into the 2026 season, with a new street circuit in Madrid already confirmed. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is also leaving the calendar after 2026.
The Italian Grand Prix could be shared by both Monza and Imola, while countries such as Argentina and South Africa could return after more than 25 years.
So, F1 Oversteer looks at five tracks that Formula 1 needs to consider, including a circuit Lando Norris loves.
A return of the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring
The Nurburgring has become synonymous with Formula 1, and the German venue was one of the seven rounds hosting a race in the inaugural 1950 championship season.
Nestled in the Eifel mountains, the track has been on and off the calendar throughout its history and hosted the German Grand Prix and events with other titles, such as the European Grand Prix.
The longer and much more dangerous Nordschleife was used in the earlier years of the world championship, but Formula 1’s final round on that layout was in 1976. Niki Lauda’s crash that year in the pouring rain, which left him with severe burns, saw the calendar drop off the calendar until 1984.
After returning for a one-off during the Covid-affected 2020 season, the track has yet to come back, but 2026 could provide an opportunity.
There is a strong German presence in Formula 1, with Mercedes continuing to run a team that can challenge at the front and win races.
Audi will join the grid in 2026 as they take over the Sauber team, meaning there will be two German outfits in a couple of years.
Nico Hulkenberg will be leading the team heading into the new era and is the only German on the grid in 2025.
Having both Audi and Mercedes on the grid would likely be a source of interest for German fans, and the Nurburgring has hosted F1 very well in the past.
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It held the European Grand Prix from 1999-2007 before rotating with fellow German circuit Hockenheim on an alternating basis.
The track itself is also very flowing and has seen some classic races, such as the superb races in changeable conditions in 1999 and 2007. There are good paces for overtaking, such as Turn 1 and the NGK-Schikane at the end of the two DRS zones.
A comeback to the twists of Istanbul Park’s undulating circuit
Istanbul Park was only on the calendar from its inaugural round in 2005 until 2011, before a brief return in 2020 and 2021, during which Lewis Hamilton clinched his record-equalling seventh world championship.
They also saw some memorable moments during their original stint on the calendar, such as Felipe Massa’s first Grand Prix victory in 2006. Just four years later, Red Bull teammates Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel collided.
Istanbul Park is a very well-liked track. Its first sector flows smoothly, and the very difficult Turn 8 is a left-hander with four apexes and a significant amount of G-forces.
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It would provide good overtaking opportunities heading into Turn 1 and the heavy braking zone into Turn 12 towards the end of the lap.
There are many street circuits already on the calendar, such as Monaco and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and a permanent circuit in Europe would add some variety amid an increase in temporary circuits.
Turkiye’s government will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2026 and is pushing for Istanbul Park to return to the highest level of motorsport.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, when asked about Türkiye’s ongoing negotiations with the Formula 1 organisation via Turkiyetoday, said: “Don’t we all want Formula 1 to return to Istanbul? We are not the only ones vying for it—many cities worldwide are competing to secure Formula 1.
Negotiations with the Formula 1 organisation are ongoing in collaboration with the company running the track, and we hope to successfully conclude this process and bring Formula 1 back to Istanbul.”
The revival of the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami
The Formula 1 world championship has not had a race in Africa since the South African Grand Prix was removed from the calendar at the end of 1993.
Kyalami hosted the event from 1967 to 1987 before briefly returning to the track in 1992 and 1993. The circuit is one of the few venues capable of hosting a Grand Prix in Africa and has achieved a Grade 1 status from the FIA.
This status from the FIA enables Kyalami to host Formula 1 races, and an event in Africa would be a world championship.
The circuit is a flowing layout with a mix of undulations and heavy braking zones, which should encourage overtaking over a race distance.
Kyalami has hosted a high level of motorsport events in recent years, particularly in GT racing, such as the GT World Challenge and Kyalami 9 Hours.
Hamilton has been pushing for a return to South Africa and discussing with Domenicali, as it would be a great addition to the calendar.
A fourth race in the US at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Formula 1 is now much more popular in the US than it was before the Netflix show Drive to Survive premiered at the beginning of 2019.
The championship did have a fascinating history in the United States after the Indy 500 counted towards the series in the 1950s.
In 2024, there were three rounds of the Formula 1 calendar at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas and street races in Las Vegas and Miami.
A fourth event may not be far away, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the only permanent venue in the nation outside of COTA that can host Formula 1.
Indianapolis hosted Formula 1 in a brief stint from 2000 to 2007. There were some excellent races, such as Michael Schumacher’s win in 2003 and Hamilton usurping McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso four years later.
F1 took a hit in the US after the farcical 2005 edition, where only the six cars running Bridgestone tyres were able to start as Michelin didn’t bring suitable tyres.
The Road Course has changed slightly since F1 were last at Indy to add a slower section before the old, banked Turn 13, which leads onto the pit straight.
There has been talk of an F1 street circuit in Chicago, but IMS could be too good an opportunity to pass on if there is a chance to return.
A return to Mugello as Lando Norris feels the track is ‘almost as good as it gets’
The 2020 Formula 1 season was heavily disrupted and two races were held at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, which helped create a 17-race championship.
Towards the end of the year, the Turkish Grand Prix also returned, and the championship held three rounds in Italy, where Mugello made its debut.
The Tuscan Grand Prix was alongside the Italian Grand Prix at Monza while Imola returned to the calendar, and it is still part of the schedule.
Much of the grid, including Lando Norris, eagerly anticipated Mugello.
It is also in a picturesque setting in the Tuscan Hills, providing a superb backdrop among a flowing circuit.
The track has many flowing turns that suit modern Formula 1 cars with high downforce and a lot of power, which creates a significant challenge for the drivers.
There is just one real overtaking opportunity after the long pit straight heading into Turn 1, while the high-speed turns, such as Casanova and the two Arrabiata’s later in the lap, demand a good balance.
Norris was looking forward to the 2020 race and explained on the F1 website: “I think it’s going to be one of the coolest tracks we go to in Formula 1, especially in a qualifying scenario.
“It’s going to be one where you feel the limits, or you feel the capabilities of a Formula 1 car, especially on the neck, I would say. It’s going to be cool.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience. Maybe the racing is not going to be quite as good in terms of what a driver feels in a Formula 1 car; I think this is one of the tracks which you would say is almost as good as it gets.”
An honourable mention for Buenos Aires in Argentina
Franco Colapinto’s arrival on the Formula 1 grid as a driver for Williams sparked a surge of interest in his native Argentina.
The 21-year-old performed admirably, and Colapinto could lead the Argentine Grand Prix back to the calendar in 2027.
He is unlikely to be on the grid in 2025 and the return of the race for the first time since 1998 almost entirely depends on Colapinto finding a drive in the near future.
Colapinto may have an opportunity at Alpine but there are no guarantees while Cadillac are still searching for two drivers.
Argentine Nico Varrone could be an option for Cadillac, and he is looking to race in Formula 2 after winning at Le Mans next year. He is also a driver for General Motors, which may help him get on the grid if Varrone is quick enough.
Whether it is Varrone or Colapinto, an Argentine would need to be on the grid to give the nation a chance of returning to F1.
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