Formula 1 experienced an off-script Sunday, with tense behind-the-scenes action in Bahrain, important changes in broadcasting in Brazil, and even personal life news involving one of the main names on the grid.
As the 2026 season approaches the Australian GP, the day’s news mixed logistical concerns, TV updates, and topics that affect the calendar and the paddock, in a sequence of subjects that already puts the category in full attention mode.
The main alert came from Bahrain. Teams like Mercedes and McLaren, as well as Pirelli, reported difficulties due to instability in the country following attacks, with airspace closed and air traffic interrupted in much of the region, which made plans unfeasible and put the focus on security and personnel evacuation. 
According to the publication, the priority became the repatriation of team members, but evacuation attempts had not been successful until then, with measures kept secret for security. In the scenario described, an immediate departure from Bahrain was not a possibility, and there was expectation about when airspace would be reopened and flights resumed. 
Still within this context, teams were looking for alternatives so that their professionals could head to Australia, the stage for the first round of 2026. The report also indicated that, at that moment, local authorities were not prioritizing the departure of F1-related personnel, while members, including some drivers, waited in hotels for a solution. 
In Brazil, the day brought a relevant update for those who follow the races on TV. F1MANIA.NET published that Formula 1 returns to the Globo Group in 2026 after a five-year hiatus, with broadcasts planned on the open channel and SporTV, in addition to complementary content on Globoplay and ge. 
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The investigation also pointed out that the races on SporTV will be shown in 4K, in ultra-definition, and that the streaming platform will make the full races available after the rounds. In the same package, Formula 2 will also be on the broadcaster throughout the season, with Gianluca Petecof mentioned as a name for the commentary. 
Off the track, Charles Leclerc was another highlight of Sunday. According to the publication, the Ferrari driver formalized his marriage to Alexandra Saint Mieux in an intimate ceremony in Monte Carlo, where the couple resides and where Leclerc was born, with videos circulating on social media despite the absence of an official statement. 
The text also described Leclerc driving through the streets of Monaco in a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, in addition to recalling that the relationship gained greater exposure at the 2023 Monaco GP, with Alexandra appearing frequently in the paddock since the end of 2023. 
Closing the day’s news with a focus on the future, Stefano Domenicali returned to the spotlight by suggesting that the Turkish GP could return to the calendar in 2027, citing the history of the Istanbul circuit and asking fans to “stay tuned.” The article also recalled the one-off returns in 2020 and 2021 and brought Domenicali’s position on the limit of 24 races per season, in addition to mentions of Portugal and Madrid’s plans for a semi-permanent circuit. 
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