With the war waging in the Middle East, cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian events means a few weeks off between last week’s Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix (May 1-3). That doesn’t stop F1 news from happening though, so we’ll keep that going with regular weekly summaries.
WILL BUXTON FLOATS MCNISH AS INTERNAL REPLACEMENT SOLUTION FOR JONATHAN WHEATLEY
A new name has emerged in the wake of Jonathan Wheatley’s sudden departure from Audi’s Formula 1 program—one that comes from within the organization itself.
F1 broadcaster Will Buxton has publicly backed Allan McNish as a leading candidate to step into the Team Principal role, arguing on the Up to Speed Podcast that Audi should prioritize continuity during a critical phase of its 2026 entry.
Wheatley exited the Audi Revolut F1 Team in March citing personal reasons, leaving project head Mattia Binotto to assume interim leadership while the team evaluates a long-term replacement.
Buxton’s pitch centers on McNish’s deep integration within Audi’s motorsport structure. The three-time Le Mans winner currently oversees Audi’s driver development program and previously served as team principal in Formula E, giving him both managerial and manufacturer-specific experience.
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According to Buxton, McNish represents a “ready-made” internal option—someone who understands Audi’s culture, personnel, and long-term F1 strategy without requiring the onboarding period an external hire would demand.
The suggestion comes at a pivotal moment for Audi. With its factory-backed F1 effort now active and development of the R26 and future power units underway, Binotto has already indicated the need to delegate trackside leadership in order to focus on the broader transformation of the team.
Whether Audi ultimately follows Buxton’s recommendation remains to be seen, but the argument underscores a broader theme of stability and internal alignment while the presence of an Allan McNish could also do well to woo over Audi motorsport fans who may not yet have made the transition from endurance racing to F1.
LAS VEGAS GP OUTLINES 2026 TICKET ROLLOUT, PRICING
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has confirmed ticket details and timing for its 2026 race weekend, set for November 19–21, with public sales opening May 7 at 10 a.m. PDT. Priority access remains available through April 30 via deposit, while American Express cardholders will receive a 48-hour presale beginning May 5.
Pricing again spans a wide range. Entry-level access starts at $50 for single-day general admission and $492 for three-day access in the Flamingo Zone, while grandstand packages begin just over $900 and extend past $2,000 for premium locations. At the top end, hospitality offerings—anchored by experiences like the Paddock Club and partner activations—reach well beyond $25,000.
Organizers are leaning into flexibility and accessibility, with payment plans available through mid-September and the return of multiple ticket tiers, including single-day options for practice, qualifying and race day. The “Grand Prix Trio” package also returns, offering three different vantage points across the weekend.
On track, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit continues to position itself as one of the fastest and most overtaking-heavy venues on the calendar, with top speeds exceeding 225 mph and triple-digit pass counts cited from previous races. Off track, the event will again emphasize entertainment, hospitality and large-scale fan activations across the Strip.
Notably, F1 Academy will return as a support series and conclude its season in Las Vegas, reinforcing the event’s role as a full-weekend spectacle rather than a standalone Grand Prix. Organizers say additional details on entertainment and programming will be announced closer to the event.
Click here for a detailed overview of each experience.
F1 ACADEMY ADDS THIRD RACE TO SELECT 2026 WEEKENDS
F1 Academy has confirmed a new three-race weekend format for select rounds beginning in 2026, with the expanded schedule set to debut at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and return later in the season at Circuit of the Americas. The update introduces an additional “Opening Race,” bringing those weekends to three races instead of the standard two.
The change also restores the 2026 calendar to 14 total races following confirmation that the April round tied to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will no longer take place. That cancellation created a shortfall in race count, and the new format is, at least in part, a mechanism to make up that lost track time.
The Opening Race will be set using each driver’s second-fastest qualifying lap, adding a strategic wrinkle to the single 30-minute session. Unlike reverse-grid formats, it awards full points toward both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships, with an additional point for fastest lap but none for pole position.
From a scheduling standpoint, F1 Academy has built flexibility into the rulebook. Series officials note the extra race can be deployed not only to maintain a consistent race count across the season, but also to take advantage of additional track time during Formula 1 weekends where capacity allows.
As for the broader context, F1 Academy has historically run alongside select Formula 1 events, and it is likely that a round would have supported the now-canceled Saudi Arabian GP weekend. The new three-race format effectively offsets that loss while aligning with the series’ stated goal of increasing competitive mileage and visibility as it continues to scale under managing director Susie Wolff.
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