What Happens If The Iran War Forces F1 To Cancel Middle East Races?

Formula 1’s governing body says it is closely monitoring the security situation in the Middle East as it weighs how to proceed with upcoming races in the region.

The FIA, which oversees both the Formula 1 World Championship and the World Endurance Championship, has events scheduled in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. Both countries have recently experienced heightened tensions following military action involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the organization is maintaining contact with local authorities, race promoters, teams, and its member clubs as it evaluates the situation.

“Safety and well-being will guide our decisions,” Ben Sulayem wrote in a statement posted to social media. He added that the FIA is carefully assessing the planned rounds of both the Formula 1 championship and the World Endurance Championship, which is set to open its season in Qatar later this month.

Ben Sulayem, who is from the United Arab Emirates, also expressed condolences to those affected by the recent violence and said the FIA hopes for stability to return to the region.

The Formula 1 calendar currently lists the Bahrain Grand Prix for April 12, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix one week later. Before those rounds, teams are preparing for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, followed by races in China and Japan.

For now, no changes to the F1 calendar have been announced. The FIA’s position is that decisions will be made based on conditions on the ground, with safety considerations taking priority over logistical or commercial factors. If a change becomes necessary, European venues are considered the most practical options due to the logistical challenges involved in moving teams and freight long distances on short notice.

Among the circuits mentioned as possible replacements is Imola in Italy. The track hosted Formula 1 races as recently as 2025 and remains fully homologated, making it one of the easier venues to reactivate on short notice. Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit has also been discussed internally. The track hosted Formula 1 races during the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons and demonstrated it could accommodate the championship with relatively limited lead time.

The World Endurance Championship does not have the same luck. WEC organizers confirmed that both the pre-season Prologue test and the Qatar 1812 km race have been delayed after the security situation in the Gulf region deteriorated. Recent military activity and retaliatory strikes have disrupted travel across several countries, affecting major aviation hubs that international racing teams rely on for freight and personnel movement.

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