The eleven Formula 1 teams will meet this coming weekend in Australia with the category’s management to discuss the situation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs. The two rounds, scheduled as the fourth and fifth of the 2026 season, are at risk due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
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Formula 1’s plan was to land in Bahrain and then in Jeddah in just over a month. However, recent geopolitical developments have put the races in doubt after Gulf countries became targets of missile retaliations by Iran, amid attacks involving Israel and the United States.
The expectation is that the meeting will serve to analyze the scenario and evaluate possible alternative venues for the two races, but without an immediate decision on cancellations. There are still a few weeks available before a final definition needs to be made.
Internally, the trend is for the category to use all the available time in the hope of a stabilization of the situation. However, recent statements indicate that the impasse could be prolonged. United States President Donald Trump stated that the operation should last weeks, while the Iranian government signaled that it intends to maintain the confrontation indefinitely. Furthermore, governments such as those of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands currently recommend that their citizens avoid travel to Bahrain.
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The teams show confidence that the Formula 1 organization will make the appropriate decision, prioritizing the safety of everyone involved. There is a consensus that no one wants to expose team members to unnecessary risks, especially after the recent episode in which McLaren and Mercedes staff and drivers were stranded in hotels in Bahrain due to the closure of the airspace.
The logistical situation is also a critical factor, as at the moment, the transport of Formula 1 cargo to Bahrain is unfeasible. Given this situation, the future of the two rounds remains undefined, while the category closely monitors events before making a final decision.
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