Turkey as a wildcard for F1 if the Middle East remains inaccessible

The situation in the Middle East continues to weigh heavily on the timetable F1 of the 2026 season. Following the cancellation of the double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia last month, due to regional tensions and the Iranian attacks, the FIA ​​and Formula One Management (FOM) are actively seeking ways to fill the gap in the calendar. Several scenarios are on the table, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem discussed them with a group of media outlets.

The first option under consideration is to bring Bahrain or Saudi Arabia back to the circuit during the slot available between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, specifically the weekend of October 2nd to 4th. A second option envisions a quadruple-four finish at the end of the season, with the conclusion postponed to December 13th. However, it is the third hypothesis that is attracting the most attention: calling upon Istanbul, as early as this year, if no Middle Eastern solution materializes.

Istanbul is taking the lead

Turkey is officially due to return to Formula 1 in 2027, with a five-year contract signed until 2031 after a six-year absence since the last Turkish Grand Prix in 2021. But the FIA ​​president has hinted that an earlier return is not out of the question: "If it's not possible [to postpone Bahrain and Saudi Arabia], then perhaps we could have Turkey this year, if it completes its accreditation and meets the other requirements."he explained to the media.

The condition is therefore clear: the Istanbul Park circuit must first complete the necessary regulatory procedures, a process that is not yet finalized. The logistical issue is central to the discussions. Mohammed Ben Sulayem explicitly acknowledges this, emphasizing that any decision must be made without jeopardizing the project. "Too much pressure on the staff" of the FIA ​​and the teams, already subject to a busy schedule.

Beyond sport, it's a question of safety

The FIA ​​president also took care to place this issue in its human context. He posed the question directly, in these terms: "What is more important? Humans or motorsport? Humans are always the priority." Regarding the possibility that the situation could continue until the end of the year, he was direct: "If this continues in October and November, we simply won't go, because safety comes first." Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which traditionally close the season, cannot therefore be guaranteed at this stage either.

The final calendar for the 2026 season therefore remains contingent on the evolution of a geopolitical situation that neither the FIA ​​nor the teams control. Istanbul Park, which has been waiting for its 2027 slot, could ultimately jump ahead of its scheduled return date—provided that the Middle Eastern races are not rescheduled this year, and that the Turkish circuit manages to be homologated before the end of the season.

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