Update on F1 Bahrain and Saudi GP reschedule: New date likely revealed!
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has shared an update about whether the cancelled Saudi Arabia and Bahrain races might be rescheduled before the Miami Grand Prix.
After a five-week break, F1 is back this weekend. The Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix, both planned for April, were cancelled due to the conflict in the Middle East. F1 decided it wasn’t safe to hold the races there after careful consideration.
For now, the other Middle East races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on the calendar for December. There’s been talk about possibly moving the Saudi race to later this year, but F1 hasn’t made any official decisions yet. They hope to hold all 24 races if it’s possible.
In a chat with Bloomberg, Domenicali said rescheduling both cancelled events would be tough because the schedule is already packed. “We might be able to fit in one,” he said.
Since the Middle East gets very hot in summer, any new dates would likely be later in the year. Costs are also a concern, as the conflict has pushed up fuel and travel prices. Domenicali pointed this out too, saying the rising costs are a big challenge.
In another interview with CNBC, he mentioned that F1 has backup plans if the situation affects Qatar or Abu Dhabi races. But for now, they’re waiting to see how things develop.
He also said a decision will be made soon, with a deadline coming up. “We hope things will be okay, but it’s our responsibility to have a Plan B ready,” he explained.
Right now, before the Miami race, Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are leading the championship standings.