F1 weighs Bahrain return or Vegas finale switch

Formula 1 is drawing up multiple contingency plans for the end of the 2026 season as uncertainty over its Gulf races leaves the championship finale unresolved.

Liberty Media’s preferred outcome remains a Middle East finish, with reports saying F1 still wants to restore Bahrain and keep Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the calendar if conditions allow. One version under discussion would move the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to 20 December and insert Bahrain into the closing run, creating a four-race stretch after Las Vegas. Another reported option would place Bahrain between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix as part of a triple-header.

That plan is being tested by more than scheduling pressure. Ongoing security concerns after military exchanges involving Iran, the United States and Gulf countries have raised fresh doubts about whether the region will be workable by November. Insurance is also a major barrier. Reports say German insurers linked to DHL, Mercedes and Audi would refuse to cover operations if the area is still classified as an active conflict zone, while DHL and teams sending freight to the region are particularly resistant because they do not believe staff safety can currently be guaranteed.

F1 is therefore keeping alternatives alive rather than forcing an early call. A source cited in reports on FOM’s planning said the decision will not be rushed because of logistical constraints, event organization, ticket sales, and travel and hotel bookings, and could be delayed until after the summer break.

If a Gulf return becomes impossible, the backup plans are already taking shape. One would see the season end with a second Las Vegas Grand Prix, leaving the calendar at 21 races instead of the 24 originally planned. Another would shift the finale to southern Europe, with Portimão and Barcelona among the circuits under consideration. Both are seen as attractive options because they could host without charging an organizing fee, making them economically favorable replacements.

No final scenario has been chosen, but the pressure point is approaching. Reports from the Austrian Grand Prix weekend indicate F1 may need a definitive decision by the Belgian Grand Prix, or shortly after the summer break at the latest, so teams can organize freight, staffing, ticketing and fan travel for the final part of the season.