Overview
- Formula One Management and the FIA are monitoring security developments with the Bahrain (April 10–12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17–19) rounds in serious doubt, with Sky reporting a decision by March 20 and no replacements if either race is dropped.
- Saudi organizers are lobbying to keep their event as discussions continue over the viability of both Middle East grands prix.
- Team travel problems and tight freight turnarounds are complicating options, with cargo from Shanghai scheduled to be dispatched to Bahrain soon after the China weekend.
- The FIA has already postponed the World Endurance Championship’s Qatar opener due to the regional conflict, highlighting precedent for calendar changes.
- Attention now shifts to the first sprint of 2026 in Shanghai, where Ferrari is rushing aerodynamic updates and widespread criticism of the new rules persists, with Toto Wolff open to tweaks and the FIA cautioning that any changes must follow governance procedures.