Formula E reveals backup plan if Saudi Arabia opener is cancelled
Formula E is confident that its 2026-27 season will begin in Saudi Arabia in December. However, the championship has a backup plan if the situation in the region means the opening races in Jeddah cannot take place. Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds said the season could instead begin in Mexico in January if the Saudi Arabian races have to be postponed. The new GEN4 era is scheduled to begin with two races in Jeddah on December 18 and 19. The championship will then move to Mexico City for a race on January 16.
Formula E prepares Mexico backup plan for Saudi Arabia season opener
Formula E is preparing to enter a new era with the introduction of its GEN4 cars. The first two races of the new season are scheduled to take place in Jeddah on December 18-19. Mexico City is then due to host the next race on January 16.However, Formula E is keeping a backup option ready because of the changing situation in the Middle East.ID@undefined Caption not available.
Formula E monitoring the situation
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said Formula E is in regular contact with Saudi Arabia and is closely watching developments in the region.”We talk to the kingdom on a very regular basis and obviously we’re monitoring what’s happening in that part of the world,” Dodds told reporters, as quoted by Reuters, ahead of the season’s title-deciding finale in London on August 15-16.He also explained why making an early decision is difficult because the situation can change quickly. “Of course the situation changes so rapidly that monitoring it in July, August when you’ve got a race in December is maybe not that helpful. But there comes a point where a decision has to be taken because we start to ship cars and logistics out there. I personally have a very high confidence that the race will go ahead in December in Jeddah,” he said.”If we collectively decided that we didn’t think that was the right answer, we also have a date pencilled into the calendar as a contingency date later in the following year that we could move the race to,” he added.
Mexico could become the season opener
Formula E already has a backup option if the Jeddah races cannot happen in December. Jeff Dodds said the championship would not need to find another race to replace the Saudi Arabian event in December.”If we couldn’t start the season in Saudi Arabia in December, then the season will just start in January in Mexico at the next calendar race,” he said.This means Mexico City could become the first Formula E race of the 2026-27 season if the Saudi Arabian opener cannot go ahead.
