Formula 1 continues to study alternatives for the 2026 calendar but avoids commenting on possible changes while the conflict in the Middle East remains unresolved. The category’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, confirmed that contingency plans exist, although he declined to go into details.
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Recent discussions revolve around the possibility of recovering the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain GPs still this season, canceled in April due to the war between the United States and Iran. In addition, there is concern about the Qatar round on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6, which may also be affected.
If these races do not take place, the championship would be reduced to 20 races, with Las Vegas closing the season. The situation could open space for new events outside the Middle East, provided there is enough time to make the changes feasible. Asked about the possibility of a second race in Las Vegas, Domenicali avoided speculation:
“To be very direct, to avoid any speculation, the only thing I can say is that we have plans,” he said. “We hope they do not need to be applied because we really want the world situation, and not just in racing, to return to normal.”
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The executive also highlighted that any change generates impacts for teams and promoters. “We are, of course, aligned with the teams and promoters because this causes a big chain reaction. At the right time, we will keep everyone informed.”
Meanwhile, Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang reinforced that F1’s priority is to try to recover at least one of the canceled races: “The well-being of everyone in F1 comes first, and we always manage the calendar with this principle in mind,” he said. Chang added that the category is evaluating different scenarios to have enough preparation time should changes be necessary.
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