The US‑Iran war forced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, leaving a two‑month void between Japan in late March and Miami in early May. F1 officials hope to slip at least one race into the autumn slot between Azerbaijan and Singapore, but the geopolitical shock has highlighted the sport’s exposure to Middle‑East volatility and underscores teams’ appetite for Gulf fans.

Bernstein analyst Ian Moore estimates the missed Bahrain and Saudi events will cost the series roughly $100mn in promoter fees, while Abu Dhabi and Qatar generate about $47mn and $55mn respectively—fees that dwarf most legacy European races. Liberty Media says sponsorship revenue should stay stable because contracts span multiple events, limiting the financial hit. The shortfall also pressures logistics budgets as freight costs rise.

Beyond fees, Gulf sovereign wealth funds and state oil giants such as Saudi Aramco anchor team ownership and title sponsorships, embedding the region in F1’s commercial engine. Analysts note investors had undervalued geopolitical risk, yet the series has shown flexibility by keeping Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the calendar. The sport’s long‑term growth remains tied to Middle‑East capital.