Melbourne Not Ready to Reschedule Its Race

Pulse Sports Team 10:54 - 17 September 2026

The 2027 Formula 1 calendar currently schedules the season to kick off with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in March. However, if the situation in the Middle East doesn't improve by spring, the start of the season could be in serious jeopardy.

One potential alternative is for the Australian Grand Prix to move from April to March, allowing Melbourne to host the season opener. However, organizers there are not prepared for such a scenario.

“Our dates are fixed – April 1-4,” explained Travis Auld, promoter of the Australian Grand Prix. “Significant reconstruction is underway at the circuit, and all renovation work adheres to specific timelines. We are preparing for April 1-4, and it would be very difficult to change that.”

Furthermore, the Melbourne race dates coincide with the school holidays in Victoria, providing another reason for the promoter's reluctance to change.

Should Bahrain and Saudi Arabia be unable to host their events, the season is still expected to commence in mid-March, but in China instead.