The FIA and F1 are already working on alternative scenarios, to try to prevent a one-month break after just three rounds of the season. Both the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for April 12, and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, April 19, are currently in jeopardywith the FIA and F1 management highlighting that they are “closely monitoring” the situation due to the current geopolitical uncertainty.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, noted in a statement that “safety and well-being will guide” the decision-making process.
It is worth remembering that there have already been attacks in both countries that would host the race, at a time when there are no signs of a slowdown in the tension felt in the region. This is also not the first time that tensions in the Middle East have affected F1, – remember that in 2022, missile attacks near the Jeddah Circuit were spotted during practice and F1 even considered canceling the race. And, in 2011, Bahrain was dropped from the calendar, precisely because of political tensions in the country.
Imola, in Italy, appears as the most likely alternative to the Middle Eastas the circuit hosted the Emilia-Romagna GP until last year – it returned to the calendar at the time of Covid-19, just like Portimão, in 2020, but was later exchanged for two GPs in Spain.
Portimão, on the other hand, still write the racingnews365a favorite of fans and some drivers due to some classic characteristics, could work as an Imola double, as it has relatively reliable weather and is close enough to Italy to make team logistics easier.
The Algarve International Circuit, in Portimão, hosted F1 for the last time in 2021.
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