Pirelli indicates that the return of the Bahrain GP now appears improbable.
"Clearly, we don’t have that time right now."
The possibility of reinstating the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix to the 2026 calendar seems to be diminishing as Formula 1 faces renewed tensions in the Middle East. Bahrain had been viewed as the top candidate for reintegration into the 2026 schedule after both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races were called off due to the onset of the conflict in Iran earlier this year. However, the resurgence of hostilities in the Gulf region has introduced new uncertainty regarding any plans for reinstatement.
Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli's motorsport director, stated that time has essentially run out. "Preparing for an event like this requires about four months – around 15 weeks for planning and transporting the tires," he explained to Germany’s Motorsport-total. "Clearly, we don’t have that time right now."
Marrafuschi indicated that the worsening security situation complicates planning efforts. "Sadly, it remains impossible to predict the level of stability in the Middle East, or whether the passage of cargo ships carrying our tires will be feasible."
"We could consider passing through the Suez Canal and then traveling by land from Jeddah across Saudi Arabia to the rest of the Middle East; however, due to the tense security situation in Saudi Arabia, this is still purely theoretical."
"Unfortunately, uncertainty is currently the overriding factor."
"I cannot specify how long it will take to prepare for a potential race in the Middle East, partly because even if we manage to navigate around Africa, we still need to confirm whether the Strait of Hormuz is accessible."
With Qatar's race set for November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi scheduled for December 4-6, Marrafuschi’s warning about needing a four-month lead time means that preparations for those races must be finalized immediately as well.
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