The 2026 Australian Grand Prix will still go ahead next weekend despite reported travel concerns for several teams. The news comes after Doha and Dubai – the major stopover hubs for Qatar and Emirates airlines – were shut on Saturday amid ongoing conflict in the region.
The Middle Eastern nations made the decision after Iran undertook retaliatory strikes in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE following the United States and Israel launching joint airstrikes on the country. The Daily Mail claim that airport closures have caused travel chaos for several Formula One teams ahead of the Aussie GP on Sunday, March 8.
The report claims that some 2,000 team and organisational staff have suddenly had to change their itineraries. It is said that those travelling Down Under are being moved on to flights via Hong Kong and Singapore, while some are flying directly into Perth with Qantas, prior to a three-hour and 35-minute internal connection to Melbourne.
But Express Sport understands that the 2026 season-opening F1 race in Australia is still going ahead. It is understood that officials are monitoring the situation and are in touch with the relevant authorities.
Some teams have already travelled to Australia ahead of practice on Friday, before qualifying a day later at Albert Park. F1 are understood to be calm and are not anticipating any major issues ahead of the season opener.
Aside from the cancelled events in 2020 and 2021, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Melbourne has featured on the F1 calendar every year since 1996.
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