Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, has confirmed that the championship is exploring “all options” regarding the upcoming Middle Eastern races amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
The ongoing conflict has raised serious uncertainty over whether the events scheduled at Bahrain International Circuit and Jeddah Corniche Circuit can proceed as planned next month. While alternative venues are being considered, there is also a possibility that the races may not be replaced if they are ultimately unable to take place.
With the Bahrain Grand Prix just over a month away, Domenicali stressed that it is still too early to make a definitive decision, noting that the security situation continues to evolve.
“Our approach, first of all, is safety for all the relevant stakeholders, the people and also the promoter itself,” Domenicali said.
“We don’t want to make any statement today because things are evolving and changing. We still have time to make the right decision.”
“This decision will be taken together. We have open options in place.”
Recent developments in the region have already disrupted Formula 1 operations. Attacks in Bahrain last weekend forced the cancellation of a tyre test scheduled by Pirelli, prompting immediate action from the championship to safeguard personnel present in the area.
The situation also created travel complications for the season-opening round at Albert Park Circuit, as several airports across the Middle East serve as key connecting hubs for teams travelling to Melbourne.
“When we saw what was happening, we had people in Dubai and Bahrain for the Pirelli test that we had to cancel,” Domenicali explained.
“We also had people in Doha. It was a very intense couple of days trying to reschedule everything, and being here now is already a great success.”
Domenicali emphasised the scale of Formula 1’s global logistics, noting that the championship moves far more personnel and equipment than many other sports. Each race requires the transportation of around 3,000 people and approximately 900 tonnes of freight across continents.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to develop, Formula 1 is closely monitoring the situation while evaluating potential solutions to protect the integrity of the 2026 season calendar without compromising safety.
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