Silverstone makes extra race offer to F1 following Middle East cancellations

F1 returns this weekend to Miami after a five-week break enforced by the removal of April’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix from the calendar, and with no replacement dates yet announced, the 2026 schedule currently has only 22 races lined up.

Neighbouring Iran, Azerbaijan is the next country scheduled to host an F1 race in the surrounding area in September, while Qatar and Abu Dhabi are currently still set to bring the curtain down on the 2026 season as part of a triple-header finale.

Recently, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told media, including GPblog, that his team have been weighing up “worst case scenarios” surrounding the affected calendar, raising possible impacts of travel interruptions, increased freight costs, hosting fees and sponsorship.

However, Silverstone boss Pringle has said the iconic track has been offered to F1 as a potential solution. Pringle conceded that “numerous practicalities” would have to be considered, but that Silverstone would be able to spring into action if required.

It would not be the first time Silverstone has stepped in to bolster the F1 calendar. During the COVID-affected 2020 season, the circuit hosted both the British GP and the 70th Anniversary GP in back-to-back races.

Speaking to Sky News, Pringle said: “I have offered. We stepped in during COVID, and we were able to help F1. If that would help, then of course we will. There are numerous practicalities that need to be considered - the offer is in, they know we are here and we can move quickly if asked.”

Pringle was then quizzed on whether Silverstone actually had spare windows to be able to hold an additional race - the 2026 British GP is set to take place on July 5. The Silverstone CEO responded: “I pride myself on not having spare windows, but everything is movable in a crisis.”

Whether F1 would actually take up Silverstone’s offer, however, remains to be seen. F1’s chief communications officer, Liam Parker, has stressed that the sport will not be rushed into making a decision just yet, with both the situation in the Middle East changing all the time, and the next races in the region scheduled for later in the year.

“Everyone can just look at the TV and see the news every day that the situation is so fluid and so dynamic, and nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow, let alone in September and October,” Parker told Sky News.

On the possible logistical and financial challenges on the F1 teams, Parker also said: “Obviously there are headaches and complexities that we have to navigate but these aren't daggers in the heart or anything like that at this moment in time.