F1 Weighs Rescheduling Bahrain or Saudi GP for Late 2026

Formula 1 officials are evaluating options to reschedule one of the cancelled Bahrain or Saudi Arabian Grands Prix later in the 2026 season, following their removal from the April calendar due to security concerns stemming from an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, originally set as a doubleheader, were scrapped earlier this year amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran. The decision created a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix, leaving no events in April and reducing the schedule from 24 to 22 races. Formula 1 prioritised the safety of teams, staff, and fans, a stance echoed by Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang during the company's first-quarter earnings call. "The wellbeing of everyone in F1 comes first, and we always manage the calendar with that principle in mind," Chang said.

Behind the scenes, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and his team are developing contingency plans, including potential slots for a rescheduled race between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September and the Singapore Grand Prix in early October. Another possibility involves shifting the Abu Dhabi season finale from December...