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While Melbourne is undoubtedly the home of the Australian F1 Grand Prix, some Sydney business leaders are fighting for the chance to host a race in the city as a possible replacement for Bahrain or Saudi Arabia due to the current conflict in the Middle East.
Though the logistics would make it unlikely for Sydney to host either race at its scheduled dates (13 April for Bahrain and 20 April for Saudi Arabia), Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou is urging authorities to make it happen should the sport need any possible venue replacements.
“If Formula One needs another race due to global instability, Sydney should be first in line. If there’s ever been a moment for NSW to make a serious play for F1, this is it. The world is watching and Sydney would put on a show like no other city,” Nicolaou told the Daily Telegraph in March 2026.
“There’s no reason Australia can’t host two races, and Sydney would deliver massive tourism and an economic boost for NSW.”
While some are calling for the city to host a possible replacement GP in lieu of either race, finding an appropriate venue for a potential race weekend is another important question.
Business Western Sydney Executive Director David Borger told the Daily Telegraph Western Sydney should be the ideal place for a circuit.
“If we’re going to think boldly, Western Sydney should be front and centre. The region has the space, the energy and the infrastructure to host a world-class event.
“A circuit running through Sydney or Western Sydney would showcase our skyline, our cultural precincts, our riverfronts, everything that makes this city extraordinary,” Borger said.
However, a spokesperson for NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said there were no ongoing discussions with the FIA in relation to a potential Sydney Grand Prix.
“The NSW government has not been approached by Formula 1 about hosting a race in NSW,” the spokesperson told Drive.
Despite the enthusiasm from city business leaders, a spokesperson for the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) – which operates Sydney Motorsport Park and is the oldest and largest motorsport club in the country – said it’s unlikely the city will host one this season, given the logistics and time constraints.
“Sydney would not be a likely option given the extremely short timeframe, with both events only four to five weeks away,” an ARDC spokesperson told Drive.
“The logistical requirements to deliver a Formula 1 event – particularly a street circuit – are significant and typically take years of planning, not weeks.”
Additionally, Melbourne has the rights to host the Australian Grand Prix until at least 2035, with local event organisers committed to running the GP in Victoria for the foreseeable future.
Asked if the Sydney Motorsport Park – one of two FIA-accredited tracks in Australia – would be the ideal place to host a last minute Grand Prix in NSW, the ARDC spokesperson said the track doesn’t have the right licence for a proper F1 race.
“Sydney Motorsport Park currently holds an FIA Grade 2 licence. Under FIA regulations, only circuits with a Grade 1 licence are permitted to host Formula 1 races,” they told Drive.
Even if authorities do plan on cancelling and replacing the two F1 GPs in the Middle East, an ARDC spokesperson said Melbourne would also be a challenge despite already having the rights and infrastructure to host a race weekend.
"Even if Bahrain or Saudi Arabia were cancelled, Melbourne would likely still face considerable logistical challenges despite having some infrastructure in place," they said.
Though the FIA is yet to officially announce its plans for the two Middle Eastern GPs, speculation that the races will be cancelled has grown on social media after Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli were allegedly heard by a fan talking about the two races on their flight to Shanghai.
According to the unnamed source, Hadjar was allegedly heard joking to Antonelli that the two races he could be competitive in might disappear.
In a March 2026 report by global sport outlet ESPN, multiple unnamed "high-ranking F1 officials" said they doubt the races will happen by their scheduled dates.
What do you think? Should an F1 Grand Prix return to NSW? And where should they put it? Vote down below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
