No Bahrain Grand Prix due to war in the Middle East: What is the alternative?

There may come a time when it becomes inevitable that this race, in the crossfire of Iranian missiles, is removed from the calendar. The second week of April is approaching faster than one might think, and at some point a decision must be made.

The fact that U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that his country’s attacks on Iran could last another four weeks is not encouraging for F1 and the FIA. If, in about three weeks, bombs are still falling in the region, air traffic is paralyzed and the travel advice is negative, then cancellation is unavoidable.

If it comes to that, the follow-up question is how to proceed. Will the race be moved to a later date, will there be a Grand Prix at another location, or will there be one fewer race in 2026?

The first option seems unlikely, as there is hardly any room on the packed calendar. There might be a gap between the races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, but during that period, it is blisteringly hot in Bahrain. Far from ideal for drivers, teams, and fans.

Option two is staging a Grand Prix elsewhere. The Imola circuit is the unofficial reserve venue, but a spokesperson for the circuit tells GPblog that they have heard nothing at all about possibly replacing the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Whether Imola can even host Formula 1 at short notice is another question. There is no event scheduled at the circuit that particular weekend, so the space is there. Moreover, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) is visiting a week later, so additional grandstands and catering facilities are also in place.

At the same time, WEC is an obstacle for F1 because the paddock is usually occupied early by this entire circus. If Formula 1 were to race there, it would need to be gone quickly by Monday. Only then would WEC have the opportunity to set up their motorhomes and hospitality. To give an idea: these are by no means inferior to F1 nowadays.

All in all, with a bit of goodwill Imola could be feasible, but meticulous planning is essential. Therefore, once again: this is not something that can be arranged in a week.

The most logical option if Bahrain is dropped is that the F1 calendar will have only 23 Grand Prix weekends this season.