The conflict in the Middle East is holding Formula 1 hostage, both for the 2026 and 2027 calendars. A decision on the end of the season will be made by mid-September, while the program for next year will be announced in the coming months. The first version will include the four stages in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, but behind the scenes an alternative plan is already being considered, which would take effect by the end of 2026.
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2027 Calendar in Autumn
The CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, met with journalists during a press conference, also addressing the topic of next year’s calendar, which under normal circumstances would already be known: “The calendar we will present in autumn will be a regular plan. Obviously, however, if the situation in the Middle East does not resolve, we will have options. The deadline to implement them is the end of the year, which is why we still have plenty of time”.
According to rumors, plans for the next season included an opening in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, now under reconsideration. The intention, however, is not to have to compress the calendar again due to the conflict in the Middle East: “If the situation in that region is not so optimal for next year, we have several plans. We have multiple options to ensure we reach the goal of 24 Grands Prix next year in any case”.
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The Prospects
At the moment there are no official communications, but it is legitimate to think that Europe would be the main candidate to eventually take the place of the events in the Middle East. Portimao and Istanbul cannot be the substitute events, having already made agreements to return to the calendar from 2027. The alternatives could instead be Imola, already in negotiations to host the end of the 2026 season, and Barcelona, which from next year will start its rotation with Spa. Also keep an eye on Malaysia, which will host Formula 1 again next October, not forgetting that in case of emergency it would also be necessary to decide where to hold the pre-season tests, normally held in Bahrain.
