F1 reviews Middle East race plans as Red Bull admits opening setback

The FIA is drafting contingency plans for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix as Middle East tensions threaten the season’s opening races. At the same time, Red Bull’s technical chief Laurent Mekies admitted the team is “not the benchmark” heading into 2026, a rare self‑assessment from the champions.

Why it matters:

The Gulf rounds are the traditional launch pad for new cars and sponsor exposure. Losing them would compress early‑season testing and could shift the championship battle. Red Bull’s admission hints at a performance gap that rivals will try to exploit.

The details:

• Contingency planning – FIA is scouting alternate venues and schedule tweaks to safeguard the sport if Bahrain or Saudi are cancelled.
• Red Bull admission – Mekies said the current package falls short of the benchmark, pointing to an aggressive 2026 development push.
• Personal news – Charles Leclerc confirmed his marriage over the weekend, adding a human‑interest note to the busy start‑up period.

What's next:

FIA expects a decision on the Gulf races in the coming weeks, with backup dates already earmarked in Europe and Asia. Red Bull will likely accelerate upgrades, while rivals watch for clues. Melbourne remains the first real test of the revised calendar and performance gap.