Source 1: F1 boss Stefano Domenicali hopes to restore canceled Middle East race to 2026 calendar | F1 News

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the sport’s bosses hope to be able to restore one of the two canceled races earlier this season to the 2026 calendar.

Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, both originally scheduled for April, were canceled due to the Middle East conflict.

At the time of the cancellation, there was no suggestion the race could be rescheduled, but Domenicali has now revealed he is hopeful of rescheduling one of them, which Sky Sports F1 understands will be the Bahrain Grand Prix.

In an exclusive interview with Dr Sky Sports F1 At this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Domenicali said: “If there’s anything we can announce in relation to the possibility of seeing if there’s room for what hasn’t been done so far, it’s that we’re going to do it at the right moment and in the right circumstances.

“It’s really hopeful, because if all the conditions are right, we’re going to go ahead with our plan. If there’s an opportunity, why not?”

Sky Sports F1 The race slot will be between October 2-4, sandwiched between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore.

Domenicali also revealed that in order to restore the Bahrain race, a decision needs to be made before F1’s summer break, which starts after the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26.

He said: “I think the gap is a potential opportunity to do one of the races that we haven’t done, we need to do that before the summer break.”

‘Racing will send a positive message to the Middle East’

Domenicali expressed hope that the final two races of the season, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, would be able to go ahead as planned.

Back-to-back races are scheduled for November 27-29 and December 4-6, raising doubts about the events that both countries came under attack during the clash.

The Bahrain event is being rescheduled and moving to October would undoubtedly be a strong indicator that the final two races could go ahead.

Domenicali said: “Our responsibility is to make sure we are ready to run our calendar as planned.

“And we’re monitoring the situation because it would be an incredibly positive message for the sport, and politically as well, that we’re moving in this direction, because if it’s happening, it’s something we can say is behind us.”

Kimi Antonelli, who won Saturday’s British Grand Prix sprint and took pole for Sunday’s full-length race at Silverstone, currently leads the drivers’ championship by 43 points over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Silverstone is the ninth of the 22 rounds currently scheduled, with a possible rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix likely to bring the calendar back to one of its original 24 planned rounds.

Formula 1 is at Silverstone for a sprint weekend at the British Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One – with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime