With just over two months remaining before the Formula One circus is due to make camp in Qatar for the penultimate race of the season, the president of the FIA says he is in no rush to cancel the final two events at Losail and the Yas Marina Circuit.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is of UAE nationality, told the Associated Press in Monza: “Being from that part of the world, we can’t jump the gun and just say, that’s it, we are canceling and then cancel.”
Why his origins have anything to do with a decision which appears inevitable is unclear. However, Ben Sulayem is committed to the safety of all involved in putting on a race weekend as he continued: “Are we going to allow our people, our staff, the drivers or the teams to go at risk? No, of course not. We will not. But we’ll have also to listen to the governments and to the local promoter there.”
High Stakes and Regional Fallout
Having an F1 race cancelled is a blow to the Middle Eastern countries who have been promoting themselves as a tourist destination, and to lose such a premier global event is both costly and a blow to their reputations. Yet despite the prediction of many pundits that the US president would now have the guts to continue the war as the mid-term elections for the US Congress approach fast, for now he is standing firm.
The war began in February, just as Pirelli were to organise a tyre test in Bahrain, and the Italian rubber manufacturer was forced to issue a statement revealing all staff were safe and well even though stranded in Bahrain. “All Pirelli personnel currently in Manama are safe in their hotels. The company is working to ensure their safety and arrange their return to Italy and the UK as soon as possible.”
Despite the bombing by Iran of Bahrain, all personnel from Pirelli, Mercedes, and McLaren eventually were evacuated to safety. Of course, the subsequent Bahrain and Saudi races were cancelled, although bizarrely the Bahrain event will now take place in Malaysia, slotted in between Azerbaijan and Singapore.
Freight, Finance, and the Logistics Nightmare
Despite the assurances the FIA would take its time over the decision to relocate the season finale, this week the optics in the Middle East worsened as the US claimed to have struck three Iranian oil tankers, boarding two and sinking the third. Iran responded with threats to escalate matters further should the US undertake any more attacks on its assets in the Strait of Hormuz.
The war began on February 28th with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which subsided somewhat when a ceasefire was agreed in June. Unreally, the fighting has persisted on and off as both sides seek to inflict both military and economic pain against each other. Peace negotiations have in effect collapsed.
So whilst the president of the FIA claims there will be no rush to cancel and/or relocate the final two race weekends of the F1 2026 season, behind the scenes plans are already under way to ensure the F1 calendar this year remains at 22 races. This is crucial to the finances of the sport, given that with any less than 22 events, the global broadcasters are entitled to significant refunds on the fees they pay to F1.
And it is not just Formula One which has been affected. The World Endurance Championship was forced to cancel its season opener in Qatar this year and recently abandoned plans to race in Bahrain in November. Of course, there are contractual issues for F1 to consider, and given around 23% of its hosting fees come from the four Middle Eastern races, the sport remains committed to fulfilling the contracts as long as possible.
Guggenheim released a report analysing the revenue hit F1 could take following the cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, assessing it to be in the region of $190–200 million of revenue and $80 million of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortisation). The teams too are affected by this massive drop in finances, given their prize pot is based on a percentage of F1 revenues taken.
Sponsors too are affected by the reduction in the number of race weekends, given their products receive less airtime and therefore they demand a refund along with the broadcasters. Much of the freight to set up the circuit for a race weekend is sent weeks in advance by sea freight. Pirelli and the teams also ship their tyres and equipment, and with the Strait of Hormuz seeing restricted traffic flows, it is highly doubtful it would all make it to Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The Las Vegas Backup Plan That Wasn’t
Recent paddock rumours suggested there could be a double-header race weekend organised in Las Vegas. Practice two and three would be abandoned and replaced by qualifying and the first Grand Prix. The original qualifying and Grand Prix on Sunday would remain.
Given that FOM is in fact the promoter of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, it was envisioned that negotiations with the city would be less complex than if a third party was involved. Yet it was not this which proved to be the stumbling block for the proposal; rather, finding approval at the F1 Commission proved impossible.
Such a late change to a race weekend format would require a super-majority amongst the Commission members, which include the manufacturers, the teams, the FIA, the promoters, and FOM. Reports at the time indicated that sources within a number of teams noted the FIA could not get the support it required.
D-Day Approaches for Imola
Yet despite the assurances from Ben Sulayem that the races will not be cancelled anytime soon, F1’s CEO stated in a mid-summer investors’ call that the time is nigh. “That moment will not be before the middle of September. So, for us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed,” he said.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
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What a prat the races should be cancelled so that other venues can be prepared and tickets sold. Liberty media must be fuming. And unless the usa obliterate Iran then 2027 races should be cancelled too.