Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has confirmed contingency plans are in place for the 2027 F1 calendar if the conflict in the Middle East continues next year.
In recent seasons, F1 has previously revealed its calendar for the following year by now but will not announce the 2027 schedule until the autumn.
Domenicali says a “normal plan” will be announced but is aware of the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran which already cancelled this year’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, and the current season will end in Europe should the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix not take place.
“In case the situation in the Middle East is not solved, we have options, different plans [for 2027]. But the trigger for that, of course, is at the end of the year, so we have still a lot of time to adjust,” said Domenicali.
“But if the situation in that region is not solved for next year, F1 is a marginal point on which we should be worried marginally because the situation will be very bad.
“Just to assure you, we have different plans with different options already in place that will accommodate the fact that we will keep, in any case, the target of 24 races also for next year.”
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F1 in talks with countries for new races
F1 has already announced Turkey and Portugal will return to the calendar to replace Zandvoort, which will host the final Dutch Grand Prix on August 21-23 after the summer break, and Barcelona.
Any new events would only join the 2028 calendar, at the earliest, but F1 are in talks with Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand and Argentina – the latter primarily due to the sport’s surge in popularity since Franco Colapinto joined the grid.
“Negotiations are progressing very well in Africa. We are having other discussions in South America. We have discussions in the Far East,” said Domenicali.
“One thing that I can tell you is that we have more requests in China and Japan, but for the moment, we want to stay with one race in China because we need to consolidate the market before thinking about having other options there.”
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Germany has also emerged as a surprise contender to join future calendars with the possibility of Hockenheim returning to the schedule.
F1 last raced at Hockenheim in 2019 but a lack of government investment saw the track fall off the calendar. However, the venue now has a different ownership and investment model.
“It was Hockenheim that connected with us, and they had the first discussion,” said Domenicali.
“They are developing the motorsport park there with a different objective. If they want to discuss a possible F1 event, of course the investment needs to be different – because our platform needs to have a different kind of investment. But we have discussed that.”
He added: “We are watching the growth in Europe because it’s becoming an important market again because the numbers are there.”
The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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