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Three circuits are reportedly being considered by Formula 1 if the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cannot go ahead in April.
The 2026 Formula 1 season begins this weekend, with the Australian Grand Prix once again hosting the opening round of the campaign.
However, teams and personnel attempting to attend the race from Europe have faced major disruption, with travel hubs in the Middle East closed due to events taking place in Iran.
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Craig Slater provided an update on the status of the upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with Formula 1 hoping that tensions would have eased before returning to the region next month.
The FIA will be well aware that contingency plans need to be put into place sooner rather than later, and three circuits are being considered should one or both races need to be moved at short notice.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen has just made a ‘really not nice’ admission about the returning Portuguese Grand Prix
Portimao, Imola and Le Castellet are being considered as ‘alternative venues’ for Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
A report from F1 Insider has provided more details about the potential changes that could be made to the F1 calendar in the coming weeks.
Formula 1 has already been impacted by what’s taking place in the Middle East, with a Pirelli tyre test that was set to take place in Bahrain over the past few days cancelled.
Up to 50 staff from McLaren and Mercedes were in Bahrain as a result of this, and both teams have had to take alternative preparations for the Australian Grand Prix in case they can’t reach Melbourne.
F1 are ‘closely monitoring’ the situation behind the scenes and three ‘alternative venues’ are currently being discussed, according to ‘insider sources’.
If the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are cancelled, which circuits should F1 go to instead?
These are Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Le Castellet in France, although this is unlikely to be an exhaustive list.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is only 40 days away, meaning F1 will need to make a decision soon to allow an alternative destination to prepare and for teams and fans to make the required alternative travel arrangements.
Additionally, on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, Ralf Schumacher suggested that both Portimao and Le Castellet would be good options to replace the races in the Middle East if they don’t go ahead.
When was the last time F1 raced at Portimao, Imola and Le Castellet?
Several races have seen their slots on the 2026 F1 calendar shift compared to last year, but Imola is the only circuit to have fallen off the schedule completely.
Max Verstappen won the previous Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which is best remembered for his amazing overtake on Oscar Piastri on the opening lap.
Portimao returns to the calendar next year, signing a two-year deal that took many people by surprise.
Portugal hosted F1 races throughout the 1950s before the sport returned to Estoril between 1984 and 1996.
The COVID pandemic saw Formula 1 make a comeback in Portugal in 2020 and 2021, with Lewis Hamilton winning both Grand Prix.
Finally, Le Castellet, also known as Paul Ricard, was a regular F1 venue between 1971 and 1990 before hosting four races between 2018 and 2022.
Verstappen and Hamilton are the only current drivers to have ever stood on the top step of the podium at the French track, with two victories each.
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