Chaos on the roads ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Melbourne: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that “safety and wellbeing” will guide decisions as Formula One’s calendar faces uncertainty amid the Middle East conflict.
While this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix has been affected by travel disruptions, the race itself remains on schedule.
The F1 calendar continues to China and Japan after Melbourne, with no disruptions anticipated.
However, concerns are rising over whether next month’s Bahrain Grand Prix (April 10–12) and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a week later will be able to proceed as scheduled, as Formula One and motorsport officials continue to closely monitor the escalating situation in the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the ongoing military operations against Iran were initially expected to last around four to five weeks but could extend “far longer” than that, adding further uncertainty to regional stability.
In response, Iran and its allies have launched retaliatory strikes on Israel, as well as US military bases and other locations across several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said he is closely monitoring the situation.
“At this moment of uncertainty, we hope for calm and a swift return to stability. Dialogue and the protection of civilians must remain priorities,” he said in his first statement on the matter late Monday.
“We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly.”
“Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the upcoming events scheduled for the World Endurance Championship and the Formula 1 World Championship,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The Endurance Championship, a premier sportscar series, is set to kick off its season in Qatar at the end of March.
While freight, including the race cars, has safely arrived in Melbourne for this weekend’s Grand Prix, closures of airspace and airports in the Middle East have disrupted travel plans for team personnel.
Dubai and Doha, major flight hubs en route to Melbourne, have been particularly affected, forcing around 1,000 race staff to scramble and rearrange their flights.
Australian Formula One chief Travis Auld said on Monday that he was confident “everyone will be here ready for the race.”
“We’re in a space where we’re really confident there will be no impact,” he added.
McLaren world champion Lando Norris will begin his title defence in Melbourne, which also marks the first race for the new Cadillac team, featuring experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez behind the wheel.
