F1 chief reveals hope of restoring cancelled race to 2026 schedule

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has confirmed the sport's bosses are hoping to be able to restore one of two cancelled races earlier this season to the 2026 calendar.

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

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

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In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1 at this weekend's British Grand Prix, Domenicali said: "If there is something that we can announce also related to the possibility of seeing if there is any space for what has not been done so far, we're going to do it, in the right moment and the right conditions.

"That is really the hope, because if all the conditions are right, we're going to go ahead with our plan. If there is a chance, why not?"

Sky Sports F1 understand the slot for the race would be from October 2-4, between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore.

Domenicali also revealed that for the Bahrain race to be restored, a decision will need to be made before F1's summer break, which begins following the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26.

He said: "I think that the gap to do the eventual possibility of doing one of the races that we have not done, we need to do it before the summer break."

'Racing in Middle East would provide positive message'

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

The back-to-back races are scheduled for November 27-29 and December 4-6, with the fact both countries came under attack during the conflict having raised doubts over the events.

The Bahrain event being rescheduled and going ahead in October would undoubtedly be a strong indicator that the final two races can go ahead.

Domenicali said: "Our duty is to make sure we are ready to run our calendar as it is planned.

"And we are monitoring the situation because it would be an incredibly positive message for sport, and also politically, that we are moving in this direction, because if this is happening, it is something we can say is behind us."

Kimi Antonelli, who on Saturday won the British Grand Prix Sprint and took pole for Sunday's full-length race at Silverstone, currently leads the Drivers' Championship by 43 points from his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Silverstone is the ninth of the 22 currently scheduled rounds, with the potential rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix having the potential to bring the calendar within one of its original 24 planned rounds.

Formula 1 is in 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 with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime