Silverstone has offered to host two Formula 1 races in 2026 to help address a calendar crisis, but the proposal has been effectively rejected by the sport's management. The Independent understands that F1 considers the idea a non-starter, despite the circuit's previous role in hosting multiple events during the pandemic-disrupted 2021 season.
The offer comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions that have forced a reshuffle of this year's schedule. Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, originally set for April, were cancelled due to the war in the Middle East, with no alternative hosts available for those dates. F1 returns this weekend with the Miami Grand Prix after a five-week break, with another three-week gap before the Canadian round.
Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle confirmed the offer, stating: "I have offered, because we stepped in during Covid and we were able to help Formula 1, and if that would help then of course we will." However, F1 views the Covid season as a unique situation and is not exploring multiple races at the same venue in a single year.
Meanwhile, F1 is set to tweak its controversial 2026 regulations when the season resumes in Miami. Changes include reducing energy harvesting from eight to seven megajoules and increasing hybrid power unit output from 250kw to 350kw, aimed at allowing drivers to push harder during qualifying. Drivers, including Max Verstappen, have criticised the current rules, with Verstappen likening the sport to "Mario Kart" and raising safety concerns after Ollie Bearman's high-speed crash in Japan.
