Formula 1 to cancel 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid Middle East conflict

[FNTC]

I would think having a couple of double headers, Japan and Miami twice each or something, would be more practical.

[basti313]

I would think having a couple of double headers, Japan and Miami twice each or something, would be more practical.

Hmmm...Japan might work. If they cancel this week, they have still 4 weeks to organize a second race. But would this make sense? I do not think that a time shift race is something they want instead of a well paid desert race...what they usually aim for is a new audience, which sleeps at this time. I do not think they are behind just having a race for the F1 fan that gets up in the middle of the night.

For Miami...I do not think you can pull forward a race on a non permanent track. So no way for Miami.

Only chance is a race in Europe...still question is why?

[FW17]

https://www.grandprix247.com/formula-1- ... t-conflict

Well...as many of these "some say" by the press at the moment...I would wait what they really confirm. There is a good chance that the region is back to "business as usual" within the weekend. Would be extremely expensive if this goes on...

I don't understand Imola when we can have Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours

Magny-Cours is too cold in April I would expect. And I do not really get the point on this track, to me it did not look like special...since the rework I would say it also could be a track in the Middle-East...

well, Imola and Portimao both used to be no-passing tracks, so not sure it's really great news, but it will certainly be a good test for those new regulations.

Portimao: Tell this to Kimi.
Imola: I think there is a misconception about this as we had some races on a damp track. The track simply does not dry up next to the line.

I just wanted a thread for a French GP at Magny Cours

[basti313]

I just wanted a thread for a French GP at Magny Cours

Yes, that is obvious

I would love to see it at Paul Ricard...that would be a nice solution. But Paul Ricard seems to be full during this time...and is not known for being "cheap". Because:
What do you think will be behind the "agreement"? My bet is equal to covid times...the track has to give the event for free to FIA and earns little to no money with the event as they have to pay everything around the event.
We learned in the past that Imola or Portimao were desperate enough to do this.

Also marketing values are low as there is no hospitalities as usual, no motorhomes...so I fear we can be happy if they do any race in case of cancellations.

[AR3-GP]

well, Imola and Portimao both used to be no-passing tracks, so not sure it's really great news, but it will certainly be a good test for those new regulations.

A pass can be orchestrated on any track now if you just dump 4MJ on 1 straight. The question is if you can make a pass stick (aka the "net" pass). This is the pass where you get ahead and have energy to spare to actually maintain position.

It's funny because in essence cars will be able to overtake (imo), but they won't be able to hold position afterwards. To the viewer this might be perceived as better than DRS trains, but to the driver it will be equally frustrating that they effectively can't pass because they get repassed aftewards.

[AR3-GP]

I hope we don't lose Jeddah. It has a specific purpose to serve with respect to these regulations.

[Seanspeed]

Magny-Cours is probably the best drivers track not on the F1 schedule.

WRT facilities, it is a Grade 1 circuit so it ticks all the boxes

WRT to location, all the people here complain about the commercial nature of F1 and the ripoff the hotels and all places around the city. This is back to the basics race for the purist fans, road trip for the guys, camping and watch the race. NO COTTON CANDY

Magny-Cours is basically a slightly oversized kart track. lol

[FW17]

Magny-Cours is probably the best drivers track not on the F1 schedule.

WRT facilities, it is a Grade 1 circuit so it ticks all the boxes

WRT to location, all the people here complain about the commercial nature of F1 and the ripoff the hotels and all places around the city. This is back to the basics race for the purist fans, road trip for the guys, camping and watch the race. NO COTTON CANDY

Magny-Cours is basically a slightly oversized kart track. lol

Which kart track has an estoril corner?

[franbatista123]

well, Imola and Portimao both used to be no-passing tracks, so not sure it's really great news, but it will certainly be a good test for those new regulations.

I think Portimão would've been great with the 2022 regs cars, shame we never got to see it.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Given what the Trump administration is saying about this lasting "weeks" and with no sign of Iran backing down, I think it is safe to say that the early season Middle East races won't happen and, depending on how the conflict evolves, Qatar and Abu Dhabi could even end up under threat.

[catent]

https://x.com/adamcooperF1/status/2029306251780235485

[Rodak]

https://puu.sh/KJuD5/ee712952bf.png

https://x.com/adamcooperF1/status/2029306251780235485

With the closing of mid-eastern airports how is the F2 freight being shipped? Is it going the long way through LAX or maybe over the pole? China is the week after OZ, then it's two weeks to Japan; I can't imagine teams ship back to Europe with a two week break. This is going to be a real headache for F1.

[basti313]

Given what the Trump administration is saying about this lasting "weeks" and with no sign of Iran backing down, I think it is safe to say that the early season Middle East races won't happen and, depending on how the conflict evolves, Qatar and Abu Dhabi could even end up under threat.

I still have hope. The whole Middle East is a much too big player economically to keep it shut down. And Saudi is not shut down at all by the way.
My bet would be that they make it safe within short time.

With the closing of mid-eastern airports how is the F2 freight being shipped?

Saudi is not shut down. Neither are flight routes for cargo through India or Africa for example. I think it is rather a question of cost if they now ship to Saudi and in cancellation to Europe or bring everything home now.

By the way: I would be even more gutted for F2 being cancelled. They have the opener now and with the cancellations they would go to Monaco basically unprepared for interesting rookies like Herta. I would have loved to see him well prepared on the streets of Monaco with his huge street circuit experience from Indy.

[ScottB]

Given what the Trump administration is saying about this lasting "weeks" and with no sign of Iran backing down, I think it is safe to say that the early season Middle East races won't happen and, depending on how the conflict evolves, Qatar and Abu Dhabi could even end up under threat.

I still have hope. The whole Middle East is a much too big player economically to keep it shut down. And Saudi is not shut down at all by the way.
My bet would be that they make it safe within short time.

With the closing of mid-eastern airports how is the F2 freight being shipped?

Saudi is not shut down. Neither are flight routes for cargo through India or Africa for example. I think it is rather a question of cost if they now ship to Saudi and in cancellation to Europe or bring everything home now.

By the way: I would be even more gutted for F2 being cancelled. They have the opener now and with the cancellations they would go to Monaco basically unprepared for interesting rookies like Herta. I would have loved to see him well prepared on the streets of Monaco with his huge street circuit experience from Indy.

It's cost and insurance, on the one hand. The straits aren't closed, but few want to run the risk of being a target.

And a race will definitely become a target. I'd be amazed if the sports insurers would back it, or if teams would agree etc etc.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Given what the Trump administration is saying about this lasting "weeks" and with no sign of Iran backing down, I think it is safe to say that the early season Middle East races won't happen and, depending on how the conflict evolves, Qatar and Abu Dhabi could even end up under threat.

I still have hope. The whole Middle East is a much too big player economically to keep it shut down. And Saudi is not shut down at all by the way.
My bet would be that they make it safe within short time.

With the closing of mid-eastern airports how is the F2 freight being shipped?

Saudi is not shut down. Neither are flight routes for cargo through India or Africa for example. I think it is rather a question of cost if they now ship to Saudi and in cancellation to Europe or bring everything home now.

By the way: I would be even more gutted for F2 being cancelled. They have the opener now and with the cancellations they would go to Monaco basically unprepared for interesting rookies like Herta. I would have loved to see him well prepared on the streets of Monaco with his huge street circuit experience from Indy.

It's cost and insurance, on the one hand. The straits aren't closed, but few want to run the risk of being a target.

And a race will definitely become a target. I'd be amazed if the sports insurers would back it, or if teams would agree etc etc.

Agreed. Look how much reassurance they needed a few years ago when there was an attack on the Aramco facility near Jeddah.

I don't see either race going ahead.

Not least because the whole region is becoming more unstable.

Any major sporting event in the region would be a very obvious target for Iran or their proxies.