Overview
- F1 chief Stefano Domenicali said the sport is optimistic about restoring one of the two races cancelled in April and aims to decide before the summer break whether to reschedule a make‑up event.
- Domenicali stressed that the safety of teams and staff is the primary condition for any return to the Gulf and that formal security clearances must be in place before a decision.
- Bahrain is the favoured candidate for a make‑up race, with a possible date on the first October weekend that would fall between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds and create a three‑race sequence.
- Organisers are keeping fallback plans for the season finale, with Portimão and Barcelona shortlisted if Qatar or Abu Dhabi cannot go ahead and a final decision on year‑end venues due by mid‑September.
- The April cancellations cut the calendar from 24 to 22 races and any reinstatement will require tight coordination with promoters, teams and national authorities because of travel, logistics and broadcast schedules.