F1 at a crossroads: Which cancelled Middle East GP makes more sense to recover?

Following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East in April, Formula 1 was forced to call off both the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix. The cancellations left a significant gap in the schedule, with an entire month without racing, and reduced the calendar to 22 rounds instead of the planned 24.

Speaking to L'Équipe recently, Domenicali explained that Formula 1 is taking the same pragmatic approach it adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed that the decision to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix was made because racing in those countries was not considered feasible under the current circumstances, adding that Formula 1 should only visit places where the atmosphere reflects the sport’s role as a source of entertainment and enjoyment.

The Italian also expressed hope that the situation will improve as soon as possible, both for Formula 1 and for the wider world. While ticket sales for the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain very strong, he acknowledged that a decision will eventually need to be made, pointing to the significant logistical and financial challenges involved in organising Formula 1 events.

Domenicali described the prospect of rescheduling both races as "impossible", while admitting that even finding room for just one of them would be far from straightforward due to the lack of available dates on the calendar. However, he confirmed that F1 has put contingency plans in place and has alternative options ready should the conflict prevent the remaining races in the region from going ahead later in the season: "I can confirm that we have a contingency plan. And if the two end-of-year races cannot take place because the war is not over, we will have other alternatives."

With the prospect of recovering both races now effectively off the table, attention has shifted towards the possibility of bringing back just one of the two cancelled events. GPblog understands that Formula 1 has identified a potential gap between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, with the weekend of October 4 remaining available should a replacement race be approved. Any such move would depend entirely on developments in the region. Before Formula 1 can seriously consider a return to either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, there would need to be a lasting easing of tensions between the United States and Iran.

On paper, Bahrain would represent the simplest option. Unlike Jeddah, the Sakhir circuit is a permanent venue and would require little to no additional preparation before hosting a Formula 1 race. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, on the other hand, takes place on a semi-street circuit, meaning extensive work would be needed to get the track ready. That process involves installing temporary infrastructure, preparing the circuit layout and implementing road closures around the venue, making the logistical challenge significantly greater than in Bahrain.

Another factor that could favour Bahrain is the nature of the 2026 regulations themselves. Jeddah would place the new-generation cars under far greater energy-management stress, as its long full-throttle sections and limited heavy-braking zones could make it significantly more susceptible to super-clipping than Sakhir.

Bahrain, by contrast, has already hosted pre-season testing and features several major braking zones, giving drivers more opportunities to recover energy through regeneration. That would likely reduce the risk of excessive clipping and make the racing product more predictable under the new power unit regulations. On the other hand, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is one of the most financially significant events on the Formula 1 calendar, largely due to the kingdom's substantial investment in the sport. As a result, the commercial benefits of bringing Jeddah back onto the schedule could prove more attractive from Formula 1's perspective.

Only a few weeks after expressing confidence in Formula 1’s current regulatory direction and highlighting the excitement of the racing, Domenicali has emerged as one of the strongest supporters of a future return to V8 engines. Speaking in Miami, Domenicali acknowledged that Formula 1’s regulations are constantly evolving as the sport adapts to new trends and technological developments. However, he stressed that the current focus remains on maintaining exciting racing and expressed satisfaction with the state of the championship and the direction Formula 1 is currently heading in.

While acknowledging that Formula 1’s regulations are constantly evolving and must adapt to changing trends and technological developments, the F1 CEO now appears increasingly attracted to the idea of simplifying the sport’s power units in the years ahead. In particular, he believes lighter cars and less complex engines would help bring Formula 1 closer to the traditional characteristics that many fans and figures within the paddock associate with the sport’s identity.