Cancelled Gulf races could cost F1 €100 million this year
Apr.16 - Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane says Formula 1 is still hoping to reschedule the cancelled Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix - despite growing logistical and financial complications.
"We are keeping an eye on the calendar and are very hopeful that there is a possibility of rescheduling one or both of these races later in the year," he said.
"We don't know anything. Obviously, until the situation in the Middle East calms down, this won't happen. If it were to materialise, however, we could have a very busy end to the season."
The comments come amid mounting pressure - particularly from Saudi Arabia - to find space later in the calendar, echoing recent claims by Dutch pundit Robert Doornbos that Jeddah could yet return in December.
However, Permane admits the financial implications of the cancellations are already being felt across the grid.
"The cancellation of two Grand Prix events has a significant impact on the teams' budgets," he said.
"On the one hand, if these races don't take place, the teams will save money because we won't have to send team staff anywhere.
"There won't be any expenses for flights, hotels, or cargo transportation.
"However, the overall balance will still go into the red, and that's bad news."
Indeed, a report by Auto Motor und Sport suggests the loss of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - among the highest-paying events - could remove close to 100 million euros from Formula 1's revenue pool this year.
With roughly half of that distributed to teams, the hit is expected to run into millions per outfit.
At the same time, rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict are adding further strain.
"We haven't seen any specific figures yet, but later in the season, teams' costs will inevitably increase due to rising fuel prices," Permane explained.
"But everyone's fuel costs have already increased, and the same will soon happen with aircraft.
"And all of this will inevitably impact F1 teams. Because all these costs are factored into the budget cap."
6 F1 Fan comments on “Cancelled Gulf races could cost F1 €100 million this year”
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Actually, based on the likelihood & the precedent set by Bahrain in 2011, FOM is almost certainly guaranteed to receive both events’ hosting fees in any case even if they don’t take place this season since Bahrain paid their hosting fee in 2011 despite the event cancellation & in full rather than only partially, so this precedent all but confirms that both Bahrain & Saudi Arabia will still be obligated to pay their respective hosting fees at least partially.
Therefore, despite 22 GPs, they still have the equivalent of 24 GPs’ hosting fees covered for this year, & this is one reason they haven’t truly attempted to reschedule at any point since the double cancellation.
Besides, as pointed previously, zero chances for rescheduling, especially for both, unless cancellations occurred within the Singapore-LV group, & otherwise, only one of them, i.e., the Saudi Arabian GP, could be rescheduled & literally in only one way, which is by placing it on the weekend between the Azerbaijan & Singapore GPs.
Firstly, as pointed out previously, Doornboss’ theory has zero relevance & foundation, especially since a triple-header is the absolute maximum that’s possible logistically, while date-shifting would be easier said than done due to all the spectators with tickets, travel accommodation, as well as teams, for that matter, while FIA’s General Assembly combined with the Prize Giving Gala is set for December 12 & can’t really be moved either due to how many parties it concerned combined with relative closeness to Christmas, so literally impossible to pull off, all things considered, but most importantly, due to logistical impossiblity, for which nothing can be done about in any case, so the Baku-Jeddah-Singapore triple-header scenario is the only way without further cancellations.
may be could be might be, quite honestly i couldnt care less this year, two wars ,on two different continents , the rules a mess, Naw who gives a sh$t im afraid Imo
The technical regulations are certainly a mess, but what other war?
The Middle East War is the only one this year to date.
Have you heard of Ukraine?
That’s been ongoing since February 2022, so nothing new.
I know as per my comment, "new" never came into it