Hope remains alive to recover the Grand Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This is confirmed by Alan Permane, Team Principal of Racing Bulls, who envisions a very tight calendar at the end of the season should the situation in the Middle East stabilize. Holding at least one of the canceled events would be important for the prize money, also to cope with the increase in fuel prices and consequently logistical expenses
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Possible recovery at the end of the year
The war in Iran forced Formula 1 to cancel the races scheduled in Bahrain and Jeddah, or rather to suspend them. In the official statement, in fact, the organizers avoided using the term ‘cancellation’, limiting themselves to saying that the April events would not take place, almost leaving the door open to a possible recovery. Regarding this, a confirmation now comes from Alan Permane, Team Principal of Racing Bulls, who commented on the situation as follows: “We keep an eye on the calendar and we sincerely hope there is a chance to recover one or both of these races later in the year. We don’t know anything. Obviously, until the situation in the Middle East calms down, this will not happen. If it does materialize, however, we could have a very tight end of the season.
Recovering at least one of the two Grand Prix seems difficult, as there are already three consecutive races scheduled at the end of the season between Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Doing so, however, would be important, considering the economic setback from not holding the April events. Permane explains: “There is a big impact in terms of prize money. Obviously, not doing these two races will affect everyone. Not holding them instead brings a benefit in terms of costs, because we don’t have to send personnel. There are no expenses for flights, hotels, and shipping of materials. The overall balance, however, is negative. There is no doubt about that.”
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Rising costs
Added to all this is the increase in logistical expenses following the rise in fuel prices, with teams hoping to collect the prizes from the canceled races also to offset the increases. Permane continues: “I don’t think we have seen the numbers yet, but later in the season transportation costs will inevitably be higher due to fuel prices, unless the situation [in the Middle East] resolves quickly and prices drop. However, I think everyone can see that filling up your car is more expensive and soon the same will happen with planes. Inevitably, this will have an impact on us.”
“Those expenses fall under the cost cap,” continues the Team Principal of Racing Bulls. “It doesn’t seem there has been any discussion on how to mitigate their effects, but it will depend on how much they worsen. I would say then that not holding two races allows you to save on the budget cap, while rising fuel prices will have a cost. At the moment, I don’t think there is a big impact, but if gasoline should increase further, then we would feel it.” Formula 1 is therefore doubly tied to the evolution of the war in the Middle East, whose continuation could increase the number of canceled races and further raise costs.
