F1 waits on Middle East peace before deciding 2026 calendar

Formula 1 is delaying any decision on the fate of its cancelled and forthcoming Middle East races despite tentative signs of easing tensions in the region.

Earlier this season, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix were cancelled because of the regional conflict.

Now, following a tentative US-Iran ceasefire and with the security situation still being closely monitored, Formula 1 is waiting before deciding whether either race can be reinstated later this year.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the team bosses will meet at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday, although "the meeting will be about a different, unknown issue".

"It’s not about changing the calendar," the report added.

"F1 prefers to wait for that."

Instead, Formula 1 will "continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East following the recent peace agreement and will wait a few weeks before addressing this issue".

The report said the championship’s preference is now to recover at least one of the two cancelled events, "since with the number of races still to be run and the few slots available in the calendar, it is logistically very difficult to recover both events".

Mundo Deportivo said the leading option is to reschedule Bahrain into the gap between Azerbaijan and Singapore, creating another triple-header.

Finding room for Saudi Arabia, however, is reportedly proving "far more difficult".