Formula 1 is working behind the scenes to try to put the Bahrain GP back on the 2026 calendar, after the race was canceled in April due to conflicts in the Middle East. The category is considering two possible windows for holding the race, but any change will depend on negotiations with the teams and approval from all involved.
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The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs were removed from the calendar in April, forcing the FIA and Liberty Media to review plans for the season. Even with the tight schedule, the possibility of recovering at least one of the stages is still being considered by the category’s management.
After the first four races of the year, Liberty Media discussed the topic during a meeting with investors to present the first quarter results. Rescheduling one of the canceled races was among the topics discussed, showing that the scenario remains open.
Derek Chang, CEO of Liberty Media, said the situation has been carefully analyzed and highlighted Formula 1’s concern to preserve the ‘well-being of everyone’. According to him, the category seeks to avoid an excessive sequence of races that could compromise teams and professionals involved in the championship.
During the Miami GP weekend, teams were reportedly informed that the situation is being closely monitored and that any decision will only happen later in the season. The expectation is that an official decision will be made between July and August.
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Currently, there are two possibilities considered by F1 to fit one of the canceled stages. The first alternative would be to use the weekend between the Azerbaijan and Singapore GPs, between October 2 and 4, creating a triple round before the sequence formed by the US, Mexico, and São Paulo GPs.
If this solution does not advance, the category considers a more complex scenario involving the end of the season. In this plan, the Bahrain GP would be held on December 6, while the Abu Dhabi GP would move to December 13, postponing the end of the season.
Any change, however, will require full alignment with the teams. In addition to sporting and logistical approval, the structures need to reorganize reservations, transport, and operational planning to accommodate a possible change in the category’s calendar.
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