Ii will be “extremely difficult” for Formula 1 to rearrange either of the cancelled Middle East races this year, Express Sport understands. That’s the view of one senior figure within F1 in response to a claim from Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft that Saudi race officials are looking to put the Jeddah race on later in the season.
The Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix were due to be held in April but both were cancelled after the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. Retaliatory fire from the Islamic Republic in the early weeks of the conflict saw civilian areas hit in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and several other countries nearby.
The USA is currently in talks with Iran over a deal though tensions in the region remain high, especially as Israeli forces continue to strike Lebanon. Regardless, Croft credited an unnamed source as he suggested one of the races could be put back on later this year. “I did bump into someone from Saudi Arabia in the paddock who is closely associated with the grand prix,” he said on the Sky F1 podcast.
“There is a desire to have that race in Jeddah run this year, potentially between Baku and Singapore. There is that week’s gap, so we could turn it into a triple-header. Obviously, they need to make a decision soon. Bahrain might be an option for that one as well, depending on what the situation is in that part of the world. But don’t be surprised if we go to Jeddah between Baku and Singapore.”
It has been F1’s position from the beginning of the conflict that it would prefer to preserve the full, original 24-race calendar if possible. But a source with knowledge of the situation told Express Sport on Friday that it would be “extremely difficult” to find a place in an already-congested race calendar between now and the end of the season.
From the Italian Grand Prix in early September to the Abu Dhabi season finale on the first weekend of December, there are 10 races scheduled over 14 weekends. There is a gap between the Azerbaijan and Singapore races, but filling that would create a situation where the season ends with three triple-headers, all with just one week separating them.
Adding further strain on logistics and the welfare of F1 personnel in an already very busy period of the season is a significant consideration. Plus, given war in the region is ongoing, there remains the threat that the final two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, may yet be cancelled too.
An F1 spokesperson told Express Sport they had no update to offer on the situation. As it stands, F1 is planning for a 22-event season and hoping that the total number doesn’t end up dropping to 20 by the end of the year.