The 2026 Formula 1 season began in Melbourne with the Australian GP, but an off-track theme has come to dominate the paddock’s backstage. F1 teams will have a meeting this Saturday to discuss the impacts of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and what might happen to the rounds scheduled for the region in the coming weeks.
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The meeting will bring together representatives from the teams, the FIA, and Formula 1 itself. The information was confirmed by Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, who revealed that the conversation will take place during the race weekend in Australia. The expectation is that the subject will gain prominence, especially given the need for quick decisions to avoid logistical problems.
According to Brown, the meeting was called by Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1. “Stefano called a meeting on Saturday. I don’t believe it’s exclusively about this topic, but it will certainly be one of the subjects discussed. It will be the first meeting of all the teams,” the executive stated in a declaration to GPblog.
The situation in the Middle East has already begun to directly affect the championship. A Pirelli tire test that was to be held in Bahrain ended up being canceled at the last minute after the increase in tension in the region. Additionally, several paddock members had to change their travel routes to reach Australia, as the airspace over part of the Middle East was closed.
In the Formula 1 calendar, two races are scheduled for April in the region. The Bahrain GP is scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabian GP appears next, set for April 19. Both countries were mentioned among the locations affected by recent attacks related to the conflict involving Iran.
The tension began after an attack carried out by the United States against Iran. In response, the country began launching offensives against different targets in the region, increasing the risk of instability in the Middle East. This scenario raised doubts within Formula 1 about the feasibility of the races planned for the coming weeks.
For the teams, the priority at this moment is the safety of everyone involved in the championship. Brown highlighted that Formula 1 needs to monitor the evolution of the situation before making any definitive decision.
“For the sport, for the fans, for the partners, and for the teams, it is fundamental that safety comes first. We will monitor the development of the situation and then make the correct decision to ensure the health and well-being of everyone involved,” he stated.
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The possibility of canceling the races also raises doubts about the financial impacts for the category and for the teams. Even so, Brown indicated that this is not the central point of the discussion at this moment.
“There could be a financial impact, depending on what happens. If the races are replaced or postponed, that changes the economic scenario. But, given the current situation, that ends up being secondary. If there is any financial impact, it will be something we have to accept given what is happening,” he commented.
Although the race in Bahrain is still more than a month away, organizing a Formula 1 round involves a complex logistical operation. Equipment, teams, media, and fans need to travel to the country in advance, which requires detailed planning.
Therefore, according to Brown, the category cannot wait too long to make a decision. The executive indicated that the teams need a definition in the coming weeks to ensure that the entire operation of the championship can be organized properly.
“From a logistical point of view, we probably have a few weeks to resolve this,” said the CEO of McLaren.
The meeting scheduled for the Australian GP weekend could be the first step in defining the future of Formula 1 races in the Middle East this season, as the category closely monitors the unfolding of the conflict in the region.
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