In just over two weeks\u2019 time, Formula 1 will hold the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia (!). As is well known, this became necessary because the race originally scheduled for April at the Bahrain International Circuit could not go ahead due to the war in the Middle East. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah was also postponed or cancelled as a result. The region has still not returned to normal. So now we have the replacement Grand Prix under the name Bahrain Grand Prix \u2013 but in Sepang, Malaysia. <\/p>\n
2027 season opener planned for Bahrain<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Formula 1 and the FIA published the calendar for 2027. It has now been confirmed that next year\u2019s season is set to open in Bahrain, followed by a race in Saudi Arabia. However, glancing at international news sites, many Formula 1 fans are asking themselves: is this even realistic? And that\u2019s not the only question. <\/p>\n
In fact, the current global situation is sparking a great deal of discussion about the calendar in the Formula 1 paddock. Last weekend in Madrid, the focus was primarily on the rest of the season: races are scheduled to take place in the Gulf region \u2013 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi \u2013 in late November and early December. When announcing the 2027 calendar, Formula 1 emphasised that nothing had changed for 2026 either and that things would continue as planned \u2013 meaning both Middle Eastern Grands Prix would take place in late autumn. However, according to our information, work is also underway in parallel on an alternative season finale at Imola on the Abu Dhabi date (6 December). Nothing has been officially announced or finalised yet. But the paddock is largely planning for a trip to Italy on St Nicholas\u2019 Day. Formula 1 is trying, as far as possible, to honour its contracts with its partners in the Middle East. <\/p>\n
Melbourne is still under construction<\/p>\n
But the 2027 calendar naturally also raises the question: what will Formula 1 do if the situation does not improve? There is still almost half a year to go until the start of the 2027 season, so plenty of time. The problem is that an alternative start to the season could not be brought forward at short notice. Melbourne hosted the season opener in 2025 and 2026 (because the fasting month of Ramadan fell in March) \u2013 but cannot host it any earlier in 2027.<\/p>\n
Speaking to our Australian colleagues at Speedcafe, GP boss Travis Auld said: \u201cOur date is now set for 1\u20134 April. And we have a major construction project that is tied to specific deadlines and timeframes. So we\u2019re as good as tied to this date.\u201d He is referring to a new pit building. When asked, Auld said: \u201cI think it would be difficult for us to postpone this date now, yes.\u201d <\/p>\n
Melbourne guaranteed first, second or third race<\/p>\n
Auld also revealed an interesting contractual detail: \u201cOur contract with Formula 1 states that we are somewhere between Race 1 and Race 3 each year.\u201d So it\u2019s worded flexibly. But Melbourne could not host a season opener in March. Even setting aside the pit building, the set-up work at Albert Park is more extensive than at permanent circuits. It is also conceivable that the permanent circuits in Shanghai and Suzuka could move up the schedule should a season opener in the Middle East prove impossible. But that is speculation at this stage. <\/p>\n
Incidentally, this could be an indication that Qatar and Abu Dhabi are indeed in doubt this year: Formula 2, which still intends to hold its season finale at both race weekends, will run an additional feature race including qualifying in Baku next week, thereby extending the race weekend (though it also emphasised that the usual format will be followed in Qatar and Abu Dhabi). <\/p>\n
There are still many question marks hanging over the rest of the current season and the start of next year. But if Formula 1 has proven one thing amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Middle East conflict, it is flexibility. Racing will definitely go ahead \u2013 the only question is where.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In just over two weeks\u2019 time, Formula 1 will hold the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia (!). As…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":900303,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[49,48,578,576,577,82],"class_list":["post-900302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=900302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/900302\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/900303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=900302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=900302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=900302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}