Travis Auld, CEO of the Australian GP, stated that he does not expect the conflict in the Middle East to affect the opening of the 2026 Formula 1 season, scheduled for March 8, in Melbourne. The statement comes after a series of airstrikes between the United States and Iran, which resulted in the closure of major Gulf transport hubs such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai.
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The situation raised concerns about the event’s logistics, with some teams and F1 members, such as McLaren reserve driver Nyck de Vries, still stranded in Bahrain. Auld, however, downplayed the impacts, highlighting that the category has vast experience in reorganizing travel logistics. “Formula 1 is an expert at moving people around the world, so they quickly rescheduled the flights. Everyone is now confirmed and should arrive within the necessary deadlines,” Auld stated in an interview with Fox Sports News.
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Even in the face of turbulence in recent days, the CEO of the Australian GP expressed confidence that the event will proceed as planned: “There is no doubt that the events of last weekend affected travel plans, but Formula 1 managed to adjust everything. All the cargo is already on-site and we are well prepared,” Auld added.
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