F1 cancellation deals already set for Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races… — and more

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain on the F1 calendar for 2026, but the status of both events is still in question. With time running out, F1 needs to decide soon if those races will go ahead as planned.

This year’s season begins with the Australian Grand Prix returning as the opening race, followed by a trip to China before teams head to Suzuka. But before then, a decision is expected on whether Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will remain part of the schedule.

There has been talk about Japan potentially hosting back-to-back races, which would put extra pressure on Aston Martin and Honda if their underperforming power units have to go through two races in front of local fans.

What happens to F1 if Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix don’t go ahead?

Adam Williams weighed in on the issue, saying: “F1 and the event organisers will be covered for this eventuality to an extent, I’d have thought. There was a lot of debate about what was and wasn’t covered in insurance agreements when the pandemic hit, so it’s a nuanced question.

“Many agreements have a ‘war exclusion’ clause, but I’d expect that, given their geography, the organisers of the Bahrain and Jeddah races would have seen this as a material risk, so would have paid for war cover. Without seeing the contracts, we can’t say for sure, however. Either way, even if they do have cover, you’re going to get back some of the money you’d have made in revenue if the race had gone ahead, but not all of it.

“And matters are complicated by the commercial structure of Formula 1 – there could be different layers of loss and insurance at the local level, for broadcasters and sponsors, and for F1 itself. Also, would F1 cancel the races altogether, replace them or suspend them? That’s another factor.

“There is something of a precedent in the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix being cancelled because of the Arab Spring… but that was resolved commercially and politically rather than through insurers,” Williams continued.

“I appreciate there are a lot of ifs and buts there… Clearly though safety has to be first – not just fans or drivers either.”

Other venues in Europe like Imola and Portimao are also being discussed as alternatives.

Formula 1 nearing deadline for decision on Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races

With practice in Bahrain set to begin on 10 April, the clock is ticking. Teams face a tight timeline, not only to prepare for the event but also to manage the complex logistics that come with a global racing calendar.

Freight schedules and travel plans don’t leave much room for uncertainty. According to a report from BBC Sport, teams may have to start sending equipment immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix if no decision has been made by then.

Both circuits are believed to pay over £75 million each in hosting fees, which includes support races like Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy.

The chances of finding replacements on short notice seem slim. Organising a Grand Prix involves ticket sales, local planning and a massive logistical effort that can’t be arranged overnight.

Adding to that, the same report downplays the idea of back-to-back races at Suzuka, suggesting there’s ‘little benefit’ compared to the strain it would put on teams and staff.

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Everything you need to know as the two sides seek to secure their place in the final

Paul Scholes appeared to mock his former teammate Michael Carrick, just minutes after he was handed his first defeat as Manchester United caretaker boss by Newcastle.

Unbeaten streak ends

United suffered a 2-1 loss to Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening, ending Carrick’s eight-game unbeaten run since he was named Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement in December last year.

The Red Devils headed into the meeting with confidence, but they were rocked in first-half stoppage time when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Bruno Fernandes was judged to have fouled Anthony Gordon inside the danger area.

Gordon stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake despite Senne Lammens diving the right way.

But United didn’t trail for too long. Fernandes made amends, supplying the assist for Casemiro, moments before the two teams went down the tunnel for half-time.

Jacob Ramsey’s second booking handed United a golden opportunity on a plate, but Carrick’s men inexplicably failed to take it. What followed was a tepid display, completely devoid of the pace and intensity required to break down the opposition.

United were made to pay when William Osula scored a 90th-minute winner to secure the three points for the Magpies. United remain in third place in the table, but they certainly missed a chance to put some distance between them and their top-four rivals.

Scholes’ jab

Almost immediately after the final whistle, Scholes made it very clear how he felt about the loss in Tyneside.

He took to Instagram story and wrote, “Michael has definitely got something special about him… Cos Utd have been CRAP last 4 games… Night! Tonali (with a heart emoji).”

His Tonali reference goes back to when Scholes claimed that the Italian is a much better midfielder than Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

Given Scholes’s long-held and vocal stance that Carrick should not be appointed as United’s permanent manager, it was perhaps predictable that he seemed to take some satisfaction in witnessing his first defeat. The pair played 160 games together for United between 2006 and 2013.

Scholes and Carrick won eight major trophies together including five Premier League titles and one Champions League title.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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Harry Kane fehlt dem FC Bayern München am Freitag in der Bundesliga gegen Borussia Mönchengladbach. Was für das Team kein Weltuntergang ist, könnte die Jagd des Engländers auf den Torrekord von Robert Lewandowski aber in Gefahr bringen.[mehr]