Speculation is growing that the cancelled Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could yet return to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar — potentially reshaping the final weeks of the season.
Both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off earlier this year due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Iran. Bahrain had been scheduled for April 12, with Jeddah set to follow on April 19. Their cancellation left a significant gap in the early part of the season, with more than five weeks between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
At the time, Formula 1 indicated that the races would not be rescheduled in their original April slots, reducing the calendar from 24 to 22 races. However, recent comments from former F1 driver Robert Doornbos have reignited discussion about a possible return for Saudi Arabia later in the year.
“I heard something else,” Doornbos said on Ziggo Sport’s De Stamtafel programme. “We know Aramco as the sponsor of Formula 1. They are promoting the event in Jeddah enormously, because that is their gem. Jeddah could yet come back to the calendar this year.”
Doornbos suggested that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could be moved to December 6, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — traditionally the season finale — pushed back one week to December 13.
“They now say that they are moving Abu Dhabi by a week and that they are slotting Jeddah in between,” he added. “That means you finish the season with four races in a row – Las Vegas, Qatar, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.”
Such a change would see Formula 1 effectively restore the calendar to 23 races, adding back one of the previously cancelled rounds. While Bahrain has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for rescheduling, Saudi Arabia is widely viewed as the more likely option due to its growing commercial importance within the sport.
Saudi Aramco, a state-majority-owned oil and gas company, is a major global partner of Formula 1 and plays a key role in supporting the Jeddah event. The race has become a central part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push into international sport, making its return a priority for organisers.
Doornbos reinforced that view in further comments, stating: “They are heavily promoting the Jeddah event, it’s their pride and joy. Jeddah must make its comeback on the calendar this year.”
If the proposed changes go ahead, Abu Dhabi would retain its status as the final race of the season, but its scheduled dates of December 3–6 would shift back by one week. While this may appear to be a simple adjustment on paper, the implications would be significant.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is not just a race weekend but a major entertainment event, anchored by the Yasalam after-race concert series. Headline acts including Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson have already been confirmed for the original December dates. A shift to December 13 would create immediate logistical challenges, with global touring schedules typically locked in months in advance.
Beyond the concerts, there would also be widespread disruption across travel, accommodation, and hospitality. Hotels, flights, and premium packages are coordinated well in advance, meaning a change would likely force thousands of fans to rearrange their plans.
There are already signs that something may be happening behind the scenes. F1 photographer Kym Illman recently pointed to unusual activity in hotel bookings across both Jeddah and Abu Dhabi for the proposed December dates.
“When I first saw an Insta post hinting the final race of the year, Abu Dhabi, would be pushed back a week to Dec 13 and the Saudi Arabian GP take it’s place on Dec 6, I was sceptical,” Illman wrote.
“But I headed to Hotels.com to see if rooms were available in Jeddah for 5-night stays incorporating Dec 6 and Abu Dhabi for the anticipated Dec 13. They were! And they were at regular prices; about a fifth of Grand Prix weekend pricing.”
However, that availability did not last.
“Over the past few days I’ve seen more posts suggesting it’s going to happen so I went back to Hotels.com and what do you know? The hotels I booked, along with those favoured by teams and fans, we’re showing FULLY BOOKED for Thursday to Sunday!”
Illman’s observations have added weight to the speculation, suggesting that demand has surged rapidly for those specific weekends — a pattern consistent with major Formula 1 events.
While no official confirmation has been made by Formula 1 or the FIA, the combination of insider comments and market signals has made the possibility increasingly difficult to ignore.
If the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is reinstated in December, it would not only restore part of the disrupted calendar but also create one of the most intense finishes to a season in recent memory. A four-race run across Las Vegas, Qatar, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi would test teams, drivers, and logistics to their limits.
