F1 is making a rule change far more worrying than extra Sprints but fans don’t know about it yet

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Formula 1 revealed its full schedule for the 2026 season on Tuesday. While the order of races had already been confirmed, the timings – and the selection of Sprint races – have now been finalised.

There are considerable changes to the F1 Sprint schedule. China and Miami retain their slots, but Silverstone returns, while organisers will mark the latest Dutch Grand Prix with an extra race.

Canada and Singapore also come in as Belgium, Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar all drop out. More significantly, though, there are reports that the number of Sprints could increase significantly from 2027.

According to Molly Hudson of The Times, half of the events of the calendar (12 out of 24) could feature a Sprint after next season. There will be an initial commitment not to go beyond 50% of the races, but the direction of travel is clear.

F1’s new ‘override’ mode in 2026 will make fans miss DRS

Extra Sprints would divide fans. Many will welcome it on the grounds that they prefer competitive sessions to practice.

But others will question whether Sprints really improve the spectacle when drivers tend to be reluctant to take risks in the shorter format. Pit stops, it could be argued, are part of what makes a Grand Prix interesting.

Stefano Domenicali says survey data shows that a majority of fans are in favour, but the reaction to the end of the DRS next year could be more unanimous. It will be replaced with an ‘override mode’, allowing drivers to access extra electrical energy when in defence or attack.

• READ MORE: Everything to know about the 2026 Formula 1 season: calendar, confirmed grid and regulation changes

Engineers have told Auto Motor und Sport that this will be ‘more powerful’ than DRS, which was introduced in 2011. This is because drivers will be able to unleash their extra speed at the beginning of the straight – during the acceleration phase – rather than waiting for an activation point.

Many DRS zones have been shortened over the years to promote overtaking in the braking area. Now, it seems like drivers will be able to cruise past on the straight much more often, which will take some of the intensity out of wheel-to-wheel battles.

It’s worth noting that ‘rule enforcers’ are wary that overtaking will be too easy and are optimistic that there will be ‘attack-and-counterattack scenarios’ after one car has depleted its battery. But this could simply lead to a succession of drive-by overtakes, which isn’t the spectacle fans are looking for.

Mercedes are expected to have the best engine in 2026 – who will be second?

Fans don’t yet know how the override button will work in practice, but based on the current projects, there’s likely to be a backlash. One suspects that the 2026 rules will need to be refined in-season, which is perhaps natural given the scale of the overhaul.

The consensus is that Mercedes are leading the way with their revised power unit. The ICE will only account for around 50% of the car’s output, with the battery becoming far more important.

• READ MORE: Highly-rated £1.4m-a-year F1 driver’s fans are now being prepared for 2026 to be very disappointing

Ferrari are having some reliability concerns with their 2026 engine, which could threaten their expected status as the nearest challengers. They are the most established, while Aston Martin suppliers Honda are also one to watch.

During tests, Red Bull have been running out of energy at the end of a lap, which could be disastrous for the reasons outlined above. Along with fellow newcomers Audi, they have work to do.