System 2 will add an additional qualifying session and a second Characteristic Race in Baku to trial an expanded race weekend format for Spherical 12 of the 2026 season, on the Baku Metropolis Circuit on 24-26 September.
The one-off change applies solely to the Azerbaijan spherical, the place F2 is the only real assist class for the System 1 Grand Prix. The ultimate two rounds of the season, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, will revert to the usual format of 1 Free Apply session, one Qualifying session, a Dash Race and a Characteristic Race.
Bruno Michel, FIA System 2 CEO, stated the Baku timetable created a possibility to broaden the present.
“As System 2 is the one Assist Occasion on the Azerbaijan System 1 Grand Prix, along with the promoters, we have now opted for a supersized F2 race weekend, with one Free Apply, two Qualifying classes, one Dash Race and two Characteristic Races,” Michel stated.
“That is the one weekend the place the timetable permits the extra classes, which is able to enhance the extent of leisure even additional for the attending crowd and all our followers. The Baku Metropolis Circuit all the time supplies us with superb racing, so we’re more than happy to make the twelfth Spherical of our season fairly distinctive.”
He confirmed the format won’t be repeated for the rest of the season. “We’ll then revert to our standard race weekend format for the ultimate two rounds of the 2026 season, which might be held at Doha and Yas Marina.”
The revised schedule will run throughout three days. Thursday morning brings a single 45-minute Free Apply session, adopted within the afternoon by two consecutive 20-minute Qualifying classes. Friday will start with the Dash Race, with the grid set in reverse order from the primary Qualifying session, adopted by the primary Characteristic Race within the afternoon, with the grid taken straight from that very same Qualifying session. The second Characteristic Race follows on Saturday morning, with the grid set by the outcomes of the second Qualifying session.
Pole place within the Qualifying classes will carry 2 factors, whereas each Characteristic Races will use the usual factors allocation, together with the Quickest Lap level for drivers ending within the high ten, consistent with the FIA System 2 Sporting Laws.
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