The 2026 calendars for both Formula 1 and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) continue to be heavily affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Both championships are being forced to revise their schedules due to the geopolitical instability in the Gulf region, with cancellations and logistical challenges reshaping the final months of the season.
Formula 1 was originally scheduled to feature a 24-race calendar, but both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were permanently cancelled following the conflict that erupted on February 28 involving the United States, Israel and Iran. F1 had been preparing to officially confirm Bahrain’s return between the Singapore and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, but the latest military developments—including intensified American air strikes and Iranian retaliation targeting military bases in Bahrain—made it impossible to reschedule the Sakhir event. While the Bahrain flag still flies above the iconic Sakhir tower, the circuit no longer has a place on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Alternative solutions and resistance within Formula 1
To fill the gap left by Bahrain, Formula 1 is primarily evaluating the possibility of hosting double-header events at circuits already on the calendar, particularly Baku or Singapore. Although teams are not enthusiastic about staging two races at the same venue, this option is becoming increasingly necessary to maintain the minimum number of races required under commercial agreements.
Liberty Media and the teams must guarantee at least 22 Grands Prix in order to avoid financial penalties linked to sponsorship and broadcasting contracts. Other alternatives, such as bringing back Istanbul Park, would require significant upgrades to the circuit’s kerbs and safety barriers, work that could only proceed with direct support from the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
European options including Portimão and Imola also face major logistical hurdles. Once Formula 1 leaves Europe for the overseas portion of the calendar, teams traditionally schedule maintenance on their transport equipment, hospitality units and engineering race bases, making it extremely difficult to add extra European events later in the season.
The geopolitical uncertainty also extends to the championship finale. For now, the Qatar Grand Prix on November 29 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6 remain on the calendar, but both events are surrounded by growing concern. Definitive decisions are expected after the summer break, with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort widely regarded as the deadline for determining how the remainder of the Formula 1 season will unfold.
The uncertainty is also creating complications for Formula 2 and Formula 3, whose calendars depend directly on Formula 1. As a result, the entire motorsport schedule remains highly sensitive to unpredictable developments in the region.
WEC prepares for an all-European finale
The FIA World Endurance Championship is also preparing for a significant calendar reshuffle, with the season now expected to conclude entirely in Europe. Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM) is planning to replace the Qatar and Bahrain rounds with races at Barcelona and Monza because of the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.
The contingency plan, presented to teams during the Interlagos weekend, is awaiting approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council around July 23, unless there is a significant improvement in the security situation across the region. LMEM has also had to take into account travel restrictions imposed by manufacturers and stakeholders regarding trips to the Middle East.
Under the proposed calendar, the championship would continue at Barcelona on October 18 following the 6 Hours of Fuji, before concluding at Monza on November 7, the weekend originally allocated to Bahrain. Both races would be run over a six-hour distance due to seasonal conditions and the characteristics of the two circuits.
Calendar clashes and GT World Challenge implications
The revised WEC schedule would create a date clash with the GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimão. Up to 19 drivers are expected to compete in both championships, while teams including Team WRT, Garage 59 and AF Corse would also be affected.
SRO is currently evaluating several solutions, including moving the GT race to Saturday—a proposal welcomed by LMEM, which has no realistic alternative to the Barcelona date.
The Barcelona and Monza races would award the standard 25 points for a victory, rather than the increased points previously allocated to the longer Middle Eastern endurance events. As a result, fewer championship points would be available during the closing rounds, making it more difficult for rivals to mount a late title challenge.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict is also disrupting planning for the 2026-27 Asian Le Mans Series, which had originally been built around events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Among the alternatives under consideration is a European opening round in December, followed by races at Sepang and Buriram. The planned introduction of the Hypercar class adds another layer of complexity to the schedule, although any European opening round would take place at a circuit not already used by the WEC.
For both Formula 1 and the FIA World Endurance Championship, the situation remains highly fluid. Final decisions are expected over the coming weeks as organisers continue to monitor geopolitical developments before confirming the definitive 2026 calendars.
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