Formula 1 has no plans to replace the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix if the races are cancelled because of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The events, scheduled for mid-April, remain in serious doubt following military action in the region.
A final decision on whether the rounds will proceed is expected to be made by 20 March at the latest.
BBC Sport understands that should the races not take place, the 2026 calendar will be reduced from 24 rounds to 22.
While venues such as Portimao in Portugal and Imola in Italy were mooted as potential alternatives, there is insufficient time to organise the logistics.
Cancellation would result in a significant five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix in late March and the Miami round in May.
Domenicali prioritises safety
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali emphasised that the safety of all personnel remains the primary concern for the sport’s governing body.
“First of all, our approach is safety for all of the relevant stakeholders, people and the promoter itself,” Domenicali said.
“We don’t want to make any statement today because things are evolving and we still have time to make the right decision.”
The Italian administrator insisted the championship would remain “quiet and calm” while monitoring the geopolitical situation.
“This decision will be taken together,” he added.
Travel disruption affects season opener
The paddock is currently in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, though preparations have been hampered by logistical challenges.
Several team personnel faced difficulties reaching Australia due to flight cancellations and re-routing issues through the Gulf region.
Pirelli was forced to abandon a scheduled tyre test in Bahrain last week which was set to involve McLaren and Mercedes.
“It has not been an easy week,” Domenicali admitted regarding the travel chaos.
“We had a lot of flights booked through the Middle East, so it has been a very intense couple of days to reschedule everything with the help of the governments.”
Curfew restrictions in the Melbourne paddock have been relaxed to assist teams struggling with late freight arrivals caused by the disruption.
Charles Leclerc led team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari one-two during opening practice at the Australian Grand Prix as the new Formula 1 era began in Melbourne.
The Monegasque driver replaced Hamilton in top spot with a late lap that moved him 0.469 seconds clear of the seven-time world champion.
Until that flying effort, less than 0.1 seconds had separated the Ferrari pair and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Rookies impress in season opener
Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar was fourth fastest, finishing 0.820 seconds off the ultimate pace.
Behind him, 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad produced an eye-catching performance to take fifth on his debut for the Racing Bulls team.
Mercedes had arrived in Melbourne as favourites following pre-season testing but endured a relatively low-key start to the campaign.
George Russell ended the hour seventh fastest, trailing the pace-setters by over a second and finishing behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Aston Martin’s engine nightmare
While Ferrari flourished, Aston Martin suffered a predictably difficult session amid severe technical concerns regarding their Honda power units.
Fernando Alonso was unable to complete a single lap due to a significant problem with his car’s engine.
His team-mate Lance Stroll fared little better, managing just three laps before a similar issue forced him back to the garage.
Team principal Adrian Newey had previously revealed that vibrations from the power unit were so severe they risked causing permanent nerve damage to Alonso’s hands.
This latest setback appears to confirm the engine is currently falling well below the required Formula 1 reliability standards.
Champion Norris hits trouble
It was a difficult start to the season for McLaren, whose session was heavily afflicted by gearbox problems.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished down in 18th place after limited running.
Elsewhere, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was eighth fastest, finishing just ahead of the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bortoleto’s team-mate Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 for the German manufacturer.
Further back, the new Cadillac team avoided finishing last, with Sergio Perez setting the 19th fastest time ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
As always, practice times come with the caveat that fuel loads and engine modes remain unknown and can significantly skew performance data.
Lando Norris begins his defence of the Formula 1 World Championship as the 2026 season gets under way with Red Bull entering a bold new era of engine manufacturing.
The new campaign promises a renewed rivalry at the front of the grid.
While tribalism often dominates the grandstands, the 2026 field offers compelling narratives up and down the pit lane.
McLaren’s fight to stay on top
Under the leadership of Zak Brown, the Woking-based outfit has been rebuilt into a bold operation.
They enter the new season as the reigning constructors’ champions.
The team established a clear identity in 2025, prioritising fair racing even when the stakes were highest.
This conviction proved pivotal in their return to the summit of the sport.
Lando Norris
The Briton enters the new season as Formula 1’s newest world champion.
Despite his success, the 26-year-old continues to face scrutiny regarding his status among the sport’s all-time greats.
Watching Norris attempt to silence his remaining doubters will be a key theme of his championship defence.
Oscar Piastri
The Australian’s 2025 campaign ended in difficult fashion following a pivotal team order decision at Monza.
Piastri looked unstoppable for half of the previous year before his form dipped significantly.
He returns to the grid intent on settling unfinished business against his title-winning teammate.
Red Bull’s power unit revolution
The Milton Keynes squad has evolved from an energy drinks sponsor into a manufacturing powerhouse.
For 2026, the team has taken the significant gamble of building its own engine.
It is a move that could define their legacy as either a masterstroke or hubris.
Max Verstappen
The Dutchman continues to produce drives of exceptional quality.
His performances in 2025 demonstrated an ability to compete for victories regardless of his machinery’s dominance.
Verstappen remains the inevitable benchmark for raw performance on the grid.
Isack Hadjar
The French youngster is the latest driver tasked with the challenging role of partnering Verstappen.
Hadjar impressed with his rookie performances and brings significant self-belief to the second seat.
He aims to succeed where previous teammates have struggled in the high-pressure environment.
Ferrari’s search for glory
The Scuderia enters another season carrying the weight of a title drought dating back to 2008.
However, the Italian marquee has shown promising signs of speed ahead of the opener.
Tifosi around the world will be hoping this is finally the year the Maranello team changes the narrative.
Defending champion Lando Norris has been listed as only the sixth favourite to retain his Formula 1 crown as the expanded 11-team grid prepares for the season opener in Melbourne.
The 2026 campaign begins this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix.
Norris claimed his maiden world title in 2025 following a tense battle that went down to the wire against Max Verstappen and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Despite entering the new era as the man to beat, bookmakers have priced the Briton at 10/1 to lift the trophy again.
McLaren face sceptics despite 2025 triumph
The Woking-based outfit enjoyed a dominant spell last year.
However, expectations have tempered significantly ahead of the new regulations.
Norris sits behind rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli, who is priced at 8/1, in the pecking order.
Oscar Piastri is listed further back at 14/1.
Ferrari impressed during pre-season testing, leading to slashed odds for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen remains a formidable obstacle at Red Bull, now joined by 21-year-old Isack Hadjar (100/1).
Hadjar replaces Sergio Perez and faces the daunting task of matching the Dutchman’s pace in the same machinery.
Cadillac and Audi enter the fray
The 2026 season marks a significant shift in the sport’s landscape with the arrival of two major manufacturers.
Cadillac join the grid with a wealth of experience in their cockpit.
The American marque has signed veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to spearhead their debut campaign.
Bookmakers remain cautious regarding their immediate impact, pricing both drivers at 1000/1 for the championship.
Audi also make their long-awaited entry, fielding Nico Hulkenburg alongside Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Brazilian youngster impressed during his rookie season in 2025, while Hulkenburg finally secured a career-first podium last year.
Both Audi drivers are rated as 500/1 outsiders, alongside Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.
Veterans and rookies aim to upset odds
Fernando Alonso continues to defy his age at Aston Martin.
Despite technical concerns raised by designer Adrian Newey, the Spaniard is the eighth favourite at 28/1.
Further down the grid, Carlos Sainz is entering his second year with Williams.
The Spaniard recovered from a slow start against Alex Albon in 2025 to finish just nine points adrift of his team-mate.
Sainz is priced at 100/1, significantly shorter than Albon’s 250/1.
Pierre Gasly is hoping for a resurgence with Alpine at 150/1 after a difficult previous campaign.
Haas pairing Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman are both listed at 400/1 as they look to break into the top 10.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has insisted he will not retire from Formula 1 until the sport adds an African Grand Prix to the calendar.
The Ferrari driver has been lobbying executives for the past seven years to secure a return to the continent, asking bosses why the championship continues to bypass the region.
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there,” said Hamilton.
“I’m chasing them – when is it going to be?”
Hopes for a continental return
Despite the Briton’s persistence, there is no imminent prospect of a race appearing on the schedule before the end of the current decade.
Talks regarding a return to South Africa’s Kyalami circuit or a potential venue in Rwanda have recently stalled.
F1 has not visited the region since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, leaving Africa as the only inhabited continent without a World Championship round.
“They’re setting certain dates,” Hamilton explained.
“I’m like, damn, I could be running out of time, so I’m going to be here for a while until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half-African.”
Concerns over exploitation
The 105-time race winner also voiced strong concerns regarding the historical and continued exploitation of African nations by Western powers.
Hamilton urged leaders across the continent to unite and reclaim agency over their resources.
“It is the most beautiful part of the world, and I don’t like that the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it and no-one speaks about it,” he said.
“Take it back from the French. Take it back from the Spanish. Take it back from the Portuguese and the British.”
“It’s so important for the future of that continent. They have all the resources to be the greatest and most powerful place in the world.”
‘Rediscovering’ form at Ferrari
Speaking ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed he has reset mentally following a challenging debut campaign with the Scuderia in 2025.
The veteran driver admitted to feeling “useless” during a dip in form last year but has spent the winter cultivating a fresh mindset.
“The break was really positive,” he added.
“It was my surroundings. It was the people that I was with. It’s not my first rodeo. So it’s understanding how to flip things.”
“But I always talk about cultivating a positive mental attitude. And that’s what I focus on the winter doing.”
Mercedes driver George Russell has identified Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as his primary challengers for the Formula 1 drivers’ title ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The Briton enters the new campaign as the bookmakers’ favourite following major regulation changes for the 2026 season.
Mercedes appear to have mastered the new power unit rules, echoing their immediate dominance from the hybrid era’s beginning in 2014.
Verstappen and Leclerc lead the chasing pack
When asked to name his biggest threats for the Drivers’ Championship, the 28-year-old was decisive regarding the competition.
“I would say Max and Leclerc.”
Russell later expanded on his prediction, acknowledging that Red Bull’s new engine package has exceeded paddock expectations.
He also refused to completely rule out seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“Charles looks very strong but you can never discount Lewis,” Russell added.
“As it stands, those are the other drivers that are on the radar, who I think will be in the mix.”
Testing times vs race reality
While Ferrari topped the timesheets in Bahrain testing, the Silver Arrows impressed during crucial race simulations.
Data suggests the Brackley-based outfit may be hiding their true pace over a single lap.
Russell’s team-mate, Kimi Antonelli, agreed with the assessment of the grid’s competitive order.
“We think Red Bull is very strong, so for sure Max is going to be in the mix,” said the Italian.
“Ferrari look very strong in Bahrain, both in long runs and on a single lap… but I wouldn’t write off Lewis as well.”
McLaren, by contrast, appear to be starting the season on the back foot compared to their immediate rivals.
A career-defining opportunity
Russell is yet to mount a sustained title challenge after four seasons often hampered by inconsistent machinery.
He views the 2026 technical reset as a “huge opportunity” to finally claim his maiden crown.
“I’m going about it the same as everyone in the season, which is to get the absolute maximum from the package,” Russell concluded.
“I think we have delivered a strong car at the moment.”
Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on winning the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship as he looks to bounce back from a challenging debut campaign with Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion is preparing for his second season with the Scuderia as the sport enters a new era of technical regulations.
Hamilton endured a frustrating 2025, failing to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his illustrious 19-year career.
Renewed optimism for new era
However, the 41-year-old cut a buoyant figure ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Having spent a year integrating into the Maranello team’s culture, Hamilton insists they are ready to leave their recent struggles in the past.
“We’ve learned a lot from last year. We’re leaving behind the bad and moving forwards with the good, and we’re just sharp,” Hamilton said.
“We are prepared, and we know what we need to do. We also know there’s massive challenges for all of us with the new rules and regulations.”
Ferrari pace and championship rivals
Ferrari showed promising signs during winter testing in Bahrain, with team-mate Charles Leclerc setting the fastest times.
While the Italian outfit impressed with their long-run pace, the Briton remains wary of the threat posed by his former team.
“The goal is to win. That’s what everyone’s working towards,” Hamilton added.
“Mercedes looks particularly quick, and I’m not really sure whether we have seen the full unleashed Red Bull yet, so it’s really, really exciting.”
Adapting to regulation changes
Hamilton struggled to adapt to the ground effect era introduced in 2022, but the overhauled 2026 technical regulations offer a fresh start.
The new generation of cars is expected to suit the veteran driver’s preference for a vehicle that can be controlled while sliding.
With the paddock consensus split between Ferrari and Mercedes as early favourites, Hamilton feels revitalised by the support system around him.
Aston Martin chief Adrian Newey has revealed the team may be forced to retire from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix due to severe vibrations posing a risk of permanent nerve damage to their drivers.
The technical mastermind admitted it is unlikely either car will see the chequered flag in Melbourne on Sunday.
Concerns centre on the new Honda power unit, which is plagued by vibration issues so intense they threaten the physical safety of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Drivers facing physical threshold
Newey, who joined the Silverstone-based outfit ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, delivered a stark assessment alongside Honda executive Koji Watanabe.
The designer stated that two-time world champion Alonso believes his hands can only withstand 25 laps of punishment.
“Fernando is of the feeling that he can’t do more than 25 laps consecutively before he will risk permanent nerve damage to his hands,” said Newey.
“Lance is of the opinion that he can’t do more than 15 laps before that threshold.”
With the race at Albert Park scheduled for 58 laps, completing the full distance appears physically impossible under current conditions.
Honda struggles with new era
The issues first emerged during pre-season testing in Bahrain, marking a difficult start to the team’s exclusive works partnership with the Japanese manufacturer.
Watanabe confirmed the power units cannot be run at full capacity as the vibrations have previously damaged battery-related components.
“I think there’s no point in not being open and honest in this meeting on our expectations,” Newey added.
“We are going to have to be very heavily restricted on how many laps we do in the race until we get on top of the source of the vibration.”
Race against time
Honda engineers are introducing countermeasures this week, though their effectiveness on a street circuit remains unproven.
“Based on extensive testing, we will introduce countermeasures, what we believe to be the most effective solution at this stage, starting this week,” said Watanabe.
“However, its effectiveness cannot yet be fully guaranteed under the real track condition.”
Aston Martin finished fifth in the constructors’ championship last season and had hoped the arrival of Newey would propel them toward the front of the grid.