F1 boss shares plans for 2027 if US-Iran conflict goes on after Saudi and Bahrain GP cancellations
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali shared that there are backup plans ready in case the conflict in the Middle East continues next year. Usually, the F1 schedule for the upcoming season is announced around this time, but the 2027 calendar has been delayed until autumn because of the uncertain situation in the Middle East.
Domenicali said there will be a “normal plan” announced for next year, but they’re also preparing alternative options if any races need to be cancelled. This year, both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled, and there’s still a chance that races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi might not happen, which could mean the season ends in Europe.
He explained, “If the situation in the Middle East isn’t resolved, we have different plans for 2027. The decision will come at the end of the year, so there’s still time to make changes.” He added that while the situation there is serious, F1 is just a small concern in comparison. “We want to make sure we keep our goal of 24 races next year,” he said.
F1 is also talking to several countries about adding new races in the coming years. Turkey and Portugal are confirmed to return, replacing Zandvoort and Barcelona. Any new races beyond that would likely start in 2028 or later, with places like Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, and Argentina all in discussions to host future events.
Domenicali said, “Negotiations are going well in Africa, and we’re also talking with countries in South America and the Far East. There’s a lot of interest from China and Japan, but for now, we want to focus on one race in China to strengthen the market before adding more.”
He also mentioned the possibility of Germany coming back to the calendar. After Hockenheim stopped hosting races in 2019 due to money issues, it’s now under new ownership. “Hockenheim reached out to us first and wants to talk about possibly hosting F1 again,” said Domenicali. “They’re working on a motorsport park with new goals, and if they want a race, the investment will need to match the level F1 requires. We’ve started those conversations.”