F1 teams want quicker clarity; FOM is holding off for now

The organizers of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix started presales this week for the 2027 event, even though the situation in the Middle East is far from normalized. There is still a conflict between the United States and Iran, causing unrest throughout the region. Undoubtedly, the Saudis are hoping that a resolution will be found in the foreseeable future and that their race can go ahead next year.

For FOM, the next race in Jeddah is a concern for later. In principle, there are two Grands Prix scheduled in the Middle East this calendar year, and everyone in the F1 paddock realizes it’s impossible for those events to take place. However, there has been no talk of cancellation yet, because FOM is hoping for a miracle. In that case, the organization could still collect the enormous fees from Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Money is the main reason to wait as long as possible to make what seems like an inevitable decision. If the races in the Middle East are canceled, one race in Imola will be added in their place. This is difficult for the teams, as they have a budget for all of 2026 but don’t know how to allocate it.

“For the first two races, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we had a fairly good estimate,” says Haas team principal Ayo Komatsu to, among others, GPblog. “Now one race has been added (in Malaysia, ed.), but the two races later in the season, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are a bit harder for us to manage financially, precisely because they are so late on the calendar.”

When asked by GPblog whether Komatsu would prefer FOM to make a decision now about the ’26 calendar, the Japanese responds: “Of course an earlier decision would be better, but I understand it’s difficult. An earlier decision is always preferable, obviously. I think everyone is in the same boat. CEO Stefano [Domenicali] is of course doing his utmost to make those two races possible, and that’s why he’s trying to postpone the decision as long as possible.”

GPblog understands that all teams grasp the situation but would actually like clarity sooner. In the meantime, everyone is preparing for a Grand Prix in Imola. For the first weekend of December, the teams have already booked hotels in the vicinity of the Italian city.