Australian Grand Prix CEO Travis Auld has assured fans the Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne will proceed as scheduled despite significant disruptions to international travel caused by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“From our event perspective everyone that needs to get here has had their flights confirmed or changed as necessary, and there’s no impact expected to our event at all,” Auld told reporters on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Auld anticipates all drivers and teams will be in Melbourne “pretty much” by Wednesday, and that practice times will not be affected. Some staff members have already arrived in Australia, unaffected by the travel challenges.
“There’s some drivers already in Australia,” Auld said. “There’s some team members already in Australia, but there’s a number that are in the UK and broadly throughout Europe that need to get here, but they’ve just had to identify another way.”
The FIA and individual teams were contacted for comment, with Audi and Alpine responding by the time of publication.
An Audi spokesperson stated the team is not concerned about logistical or safety issues ahead of the Melbourne race and will arrive on schedule. The team has been “in close contact with F1 and the FIA” and is “following their guidance” for international travel.
“There’ll be no impact on the race or event in any way… How that looks for every team in F1 I’m not exactly sure, but from the event delivery point of view I know they’ll be here.”
Travis Auld
Alpine confirmed it had to alter its usual routes to Australia but declined to provide specific travel details.
The majority of Formula 1 drivers reside in Europe, while technicians, engineers, mechanics, and communications staff are located globally.
Auld praised the “incredible cooperation” from Melbourne Airport in accommodating the F1 teams amidst the ongoing conflict. “That’s been a process for them,” he said. “I’m sure it’s been a lot of operate on their behalf… we’ll see them all arrive on time.”
Auld added that Formula 1 has confirmed all personnel required for the race will be in Melbourne.
Drivers were able to complete pre-season testing periods in Bahrain in mid-February.Credit: Getty Images
Most Formula 1 teams are based in the United Kingdom, with McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Aston Martin all maintaining headquarters there. Ferrari’s staff is largely based in Italy, while Cadillac has bases in both North Carolina and the UK.
Nearly all 22 F1 drivers, team principals, and retired drivers call Monaco home.
The situation adds another layer of complexity to the start of the 2026 season, following the cancellation of Pirelli’s scheduled tyre testing in Bahrain due to security concerns.
Travel agency Bunnik Tours co-CEO Dennis Bunnik explained that ground travel through Saudi Arabia may be necessary for teams to reach Australia, as Saudi airspace remains open. “If they can’t get out of Bahrain into Saudi, then they’ll really have to wait until the airspace is open, in which case, that would obviously impact Formula 1.”
Australian motorsport photographer Kym Illman reported on Instagram that many F1 crews from the UK and Europe are seeking alternate routes through Asian ports, leading to a surge in flight prices. Illman estimates that approximately a quarter of the 100+ staff and crew members expected per team have already arrived in Melbourne, with the remainder due to arrive by Thursday.
While Auld and the FIA have reassured fans the Australian Grand Prix will not be affected, the future of other races on the F1 calendar remains uncertain.
Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are scheduled for April 12th and 19th, respectively, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi hosting the penultimate and final races of the season.
An F1 spokesperson stated the series is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant authorities. “Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan and not in the Middle East – those races are not for a number of weeks.”
With Chris Zappone
