Listen & read
Formula 1 is poised to potentially reinstate one of its canceled Middle Eastern races during the 2026 season, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. This move could have significant implications for the racing calendar and the teams involved.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were scrapped earlier this year, leading to a major reshuffle of the season's schedule. F1 executives are now exploring options to reintroduce either race before the season wraps up in December. One scenario involves slotting a race in the gap between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix in September. Another possibility is delaying the Abu Dhabi finale by one week to accommodate an additional event between Qatar and Yas Marina, which could create a demanding quadruple-header alongside Las Vegas and Qatar.
However, the unpredictable geopolitical climate poses challenges. Should tensions escalate, even the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races could face similar uncertainties. Formula 1 is working to strike a balance between flexibility and caution, keeping teams and stakeholders informed. CEO Derek Chang highlights ongoing evaluations of the calendar, while Stefano Domenicali emphasizes the hope for stability in the region, aiming for plans that ideally won’t need to be implemented.
Comments (0)