Formula 1 appears to be facing a headache in its plans for the 2027 season opener after the Australian Grand Prix confirmed it cannot host the first race of the year. AGPC CEO Travis Auld has stated that Melbourne's date is locked in for April 1-4, making it difficult to move.
"Our date's been locked in now, April 1-4, and clearly we've got a big asset being built behind us that has some timelines attached to it," Auld said, as reported by Speedcafe. "So we're pretty much locked in at that April 1-4 date. I think it would be difficult for us to move that date now."
This statement comes after F1 released its provisional calendar for the 2027 season on Wednesday. According to the schedule, the season is set to start in Bahrain on March 12-14, followed by Saudi Arabia a week later. However, both events remain in doubt due to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East.
The escalating tensions in the region have cast a shadow over the planned conclusion of the 2026 season. Nevertheless, F1 is determined to complete the campaign as scheduled. Currently, races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on, and F1 intends to go there. F1 is considering a contingency plan that could see the season end in Imola, but no final decision has been made. It is understood F1 is willing to make a late call and would be prepared to compensate Imola if needed.
The war could yet have implications for the start of the 2027 season. Bahrain is set to return to its default season-opener slot after three years due to the timing of Ramadan. It was believed that F1's Plan B scenario could see the Australia-China-Japan triple-header brought forward to accommodate if Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could not be staged. However, with Auld's statement, that option now seems closed.
The 2027 season will feature 24 grands prix and an increased number of sprint races, with 10 taking place. Sprint races will be held for the first time in Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco, and Abu Dhabi, with the others in Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Brazil, and Qatar. Thus, Australia remains part of the sprint schedule but not as the season opener.
This decision is a blow to F1, which hoped for flexibility in scheduling. With Melbourne committed to its fixed date, F1 must find another solution if Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cannot host races. Meanwhile, fans in Australia can still look forward to a race in early April, albeit not as the season opener.
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