Suzuka is being looked at as a potential backup option if the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia end up being called off because of the current issues in the Middle East.
The 2026 F1 season gets going with back-to-back races in Australia and China, followed by the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. However, events unfolding in the Middle East have cast doubt over what comes next on the calendar.
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The Bahrain Grand Prix is supposed to take place from April 10-12, with Saudi Arabia scheduled for the following weekend. But those events are now up in the air, especially after WEC’s opening race in Qatar was recently postponed.
Some teams have already been affected by the unrest. Ferrari and Racing Bulls were hit hardest, having to reroute their travel plans out of Italy to catch a charter flight from England instead.
F1 considers Suzuka double-header as logistical challenges mount for Bahrain replacement
F1 bosses are monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely, but finding a suitable replacement for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix isn’t straightforward. While venues like Portimao, Imola, and Paul Ricard have been mentioned, each comes with its own challenges.
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According to a report from Blick, F1 has reached out to both Portimao and Imola to gauge their readiness. However, Suzuka is now being discussed as a more practical option. The idea of holding two consecutive races in Japan is gaining traction within the paddock.
Suzuka’s strong relationship with F1 makes it an appealing choice compared to other circuits that lack current contracts or recent experience hosting races. If European alternatives fall through due to timing or logistics, back-to-back events at Suzuka could offer a more feasible solution for everyone involved.
This scenario appears more manageable than trying to slot in two European races before the official start of the continent’s schedule later in June. The 2026 F1 calendar has an early triple-header in Australia, China, and Japan before heading west.
With teams already beginning to ship equipment across Asia for this stretch of races, another event in Japan would fit better with existing plans than an unexpected return trip to Europe. Each team typically needs four or five separate shipments just to move all their gear between rounds.
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Why Suzuka could be set for a double-header in 2026
If the Bahrain race is postponed, F1 could fill that gap with another event at Suzuka. The calendar has Suzuka hosting the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29, followed by a one-week break before the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 10-12.
Suzuka doesn’t have any major races scheduled immediately after F1’s visit, but the Super Taikyu series is set to race there on April 18-19. That timing means F1 might need to organise two consecutive weekends in Japan if they go ahead with back-to-back races.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are the only two rounds slated for April. After that, F1 heads to America for Miami on May 1-3. The gap between races gives F1 some flexibility to add a European event if needed.
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