Formula 1 Announces Contract Extensions

Formula 1 has announced several contract extensions for circuits that will appear on its 2022 calendar. Imola will remain part of the Formula 1 calendar until 2025. This follows two successful Grands Prix at the circuit during the pandemic and the inclusion of the race in this year’s championship.

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas has also signed a new contract ensuring they will host Formula 1 races until and including 2026. The first Formula 1 race at COTA took place in 2012 when 100,000 fans saw Lewis Hamilton take victory in a McLaren.

But the sport struggled and, despite concerts running concurrently during a race weekend to boost attendances, the venue was in danger of falling off of the F1 race calendar during the late ‘naughties’.

Thankfully Netflix’s F1: Drive To Survive series gave Formula 1 a much-needed shot in the arm and drove massive growth in popularity in North America. In 2021, a record-breaking 400,000 fans witnessed Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battle out the race victory. The Dutchman ultimately took his maiden win on American soil.

Bahrain is Signed-Up Until 2036

Formula 1 has also confirmed that Bahrain will be a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar for years to come. The venue played host to the second batch of pre-season testing last weekend and will stage the first race of the 2022 season this coming weekend. The Bahrain International Circuit’s recently signed deal ensures they will stage races until 2036!

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been on the F1 calendar since 2004 – it was cancelled in 2011 due to popular uprisings against the regime – and hosted two races in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has been reported the facilities at the circuit for both racing and the fans have recently undergone further investment to enhance the fan experience. Alongside this, the promoter has already announced significant actions to increase the environmental sustainability of the event with all energy used by the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 coming from sustainable energy sources.

This coming weekend both Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race will begin at 18.00 local time. That is 3pm UK time and is 12 minutes after the sun sets on the Asian country.

Singapore is another country that stages a popular night race. And that venue’s place on the Formula 1 roster was confirmed in late January. Racing will take place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit until at least 2028.

The city circuit is regarded as one of the most challenging races on F1’s schedule – alongside Monaco – owing to its tight and twisty layout, its night-based timetable, and its oppressive heat and humidity.