The Formula 2 championship has announced an expanded event for its upcoming round in Baku, introducing an additional race of extra laps. This decision has come only ten days before the start of the competition weekend in Azerbaijan.
The measure, unusual and late, raises questions, especially at a time when the Formula 1 calendar is still uncertain. Currently, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi may not take place as planned due to the tense geopolitical situation in the region.
The new format will include a doubleheader weekend, with a qualifying session and an additional race compared to the usual schedule. Bruno Michel, CEO of F2, has confirmed this modification, noting that ‘F2 is the only support event for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan,’ and that they have opted for an expanded program to offer more entertainment to spectators.
This powerful extra opportunity for competition comes in a context of uncertainty in the F1 calendar, with the season finale in Abu Dhabi still scheduled. Organizers have not explained the exact reason for deciding to expand the Baku meeting, but it can be interpreted as a way to compensate for possible cancellations of future events.
The last two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will maintain their usual format, which consists of a free practice session, a qualifying session, a sprint race, and a feature race. The decision on the remaining calendar for 2026 is expected to be made before the end of September, with the possibility of relocating the Bahrain Grand Prix to Sepang, Malaysia, for early October.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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