The Bahrain International Circuit, which Formula 1 was unable to visit this year due to the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf, is expected to host the opening round of the 2027 season.
Between contracts and religion
The recent announcement confirming the return of the Turkish Grand Prix to the calendar from the 2027 season has helped clarify the broader picture of what next year’s Formula 1 schedule could look like, although much still depends on how current international tensions evolve over the coming months.
One point, however, appears increasingly certain: the 2027 Formula 1 season is expected to begin not in Australia, but in Bahrain.
This scenario is driven by a combination of contractual obligations and religious considerations. When the Melbourne circuit renewed its agreement with Formula 1 at the end of 2022, it secured a clause guaranteeing the right to host the season-opening race on at least five occasions between 2023 and 2037.
Two of those opportunities have already been used, in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. In both cases, the timing of Ramadan played a crucial role, prompting Muslim-majority countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to adjust their race dates to avoid overlapping with the holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection, one of the five pillars of Islam.
A return to the 2024 format
In 2027, however, Ramadan is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, placing it earlier in the calendar than the likely start of the Formula 1 season.
As a result, the championship will most likely begin on Sunday, March 14 at the Sakhir circuit, with the Australian Grand Prix moving to the third round of the season. This would effectively replicate the structure seen in the early races of the calendar between 2022 and 2024.
Melbourne still retains three remaining “wildcard” opportunities between 2028 and 2037, during which it is contractually entitled to host the opening round of the championship on its home circuit.
The likely return of the season opener to Bahrain in 2027 therefore highlights the complex logistical balancing act Formula 1 must perform each year. By respecting the timing of Ramadan while honoring the long-term hosting guarantees given to iconic tracks like Melbourne, the sport ensures it remains a truly global and culturally sensitive series. As we look ahead to 2027, fans can expect the familiar floodlights of Sakhir to provide the first competitive spark of the year, marking another chapter in the sport’s ever-evolving relationship with its most prominent host nations.
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