At present, Formula 1 races cannot take place in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – the decisive factor is whether the situation will ease in the coming days.
Can the Formula 1 races in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19) really take place as planned? At present, it would certainly be unthinkable to hold them, as both countries have been attacked with missiles and drones in recent days.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has already responded to the war in the region by canceling its season opener in Qatar, which was scheduled for March 28. Just two weeks later, Formula 1 is scheduled to race in neighboring Bahrain.
Although that is still more than a month away, expert Ralf Schumacher explains on Sky: “If what Donald Trump has published is true, […] then I can’t imagine that we will be racing there with Formula 1 in five or six weeks’ time.”
US President Trump had previously stated that the US military operation against Iran could last up to four weeks. If this assessment is correct, it would be almost impossible to hold Formula 1 races in the region as planned.
Quite apart from security issues, simply getting the Formula 1 circus there would be a challenge in itself, as air traffic throughout the region is currently severely restricted. A few days ago, Pirelli had to cut short a Formula 1 tire test in Bahrain.
“Several team members were affected by the planned tire test in Bahrain, all of whom have now left the country safely,” reveals Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Other Formula 1 personnel from Pirelli and McLaren were also affected.
Wolff: Formula 1 will “make the right decisions”
“Given the current situation in the Middle East, it seems almost trivial to talk about sport. We are monitoring developments in the region with concern and hope that the protection of the civilian population will continue to be a top priority,” Wolff emphasized.
“In view of this serious situation, it would be unhelpful to talk about possible further implications for Formula 1 in the coming weeks. However, we are confident that the FIA and Formula 1 will continue to monitor events and make the right decisions if necessary,“ said the Mercedes team boss.
For Ralf Schumacher, it is already clear that under the current circumstances, it would make ”no sense” to stick to the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. However, if Formula 1 were to follow the example of the WEC, that would not mean that the two Grands Prix would be canceled completely. The WEC season opener in Qatar has only been officially postponed and is to be rescheduled for later in the year. “The safety and well-being of our community will always be the FIA’s top priority,” said FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem.
If the situation does not ease in the coming days, it is possible that the 2026 Formula 1 calendar could change again. A final decision is expected between the races in China (March 15) and Japan (March 29) at the latest due to various lead times.