Domenicali confirms F1 preparing contingency plans amid Middle East uncertainty

Formula 1 is continuing to monitor the situation in the Middle East as questions remain over whether more races could be affected later this year.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were already removed from their original April dates due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, leaving a gap in the early part of the season. Attention has now shifted towards the final phase of the calendar, with concerns that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds could also become difficult to hold if the situation does not improve.

Should both races eventually be cancelled, the 2026 Formula 1 season would be reduced to 20 events, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix currently scheduled as the final round of the championship.

There has also been speculation over whether Formula 1 could look at alternative venues to fill potential gaps in the calendar. During a call with Wall Street analysts, Domenicali was even asked if a second event in Las Vegas could become an option if further races are lost from the schedule. However, the Italian avoided discussing any specific replacement scenarios.

“To be very direct, to avoid any speculation, the only thing I can see that we have plans,” Domenicali said.

“Hopefully not to be applied, because we really hope that the situation for the world, but only for the racing, will go back to a normal situation. We have plans, of course. The lead time or the cut-off really is different between the fact that we can eventually recover what has been not run in April versus what could eventually happen or not happen in the end of November, beginning of December,” the F1 CEO added.