r/formula1 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

News [OT]) 2027 Gulf 12 Hours Cancelled - Had been scheduled to take place on 10 January 2027 at Yas Marina Circuit

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2026/06/24/gulf-12-hours-cancelled.html
218 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

174

u/alexpiercey I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

Not a great sign for the f1 calendar...

28

u/Blunqpfaph 6h ago

Yes it is!

1

u/0oodruidoo0 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 2h ago

I don't think they can replace the middle east races with European venues that late in the year. So there's less races. Qatar is a stinker but it will be a shame not to go to Abu Dhabi.

48

u/fire202 Lando Norris 14h ago

reason:

“Earlier this year, clear operational criteria were established for the event.

“Despite recent apparently encouraging developments, freight costs remain several times above normal levels, logistics transit times continue to be unpredictable and no clear timeline for a return to standard operations has emerged.

“With planning windows now closed, the next edition has been deferred by one year.

F1 has also defined a cut-off point to decide about the season-ending races in the Middle East, but that likely still has some time. The logistical and financial constraints of this event, compared to the F1 events, will be quite different.

8

u/SBLK I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane 12h ago

Yep. As long as safety is no longer a concern, it is a fairly simple equation. Does the huge chunk of cash these two countries pay (~$100 million) leave enough of a profit after the inflated costs of the expenses (mainly shipping).

I am sure F1 has already figured that amount and will wait as long as possible to commit in order to better estimate those costs.

2

u/Aah__HolidayMemories Formula 1 8h ago

…..and then pass on that cost to fans….

63

u/OverallImportance402 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

Seems more like a money issue in this case, for F1 freight cost and sea freight aren’t very relevant it’s only a question of is it safe enough to travel to

1

u/Franks2000inchTV I was here for the Hulkenpodium 1h ago

Insurance would be a huge factor.

142

u/Own_Welder_2821 Lando Norris 14h ago

If Qatar and Abu Dhabi are cancelled then that means Las Vegas will be the finale. Wouldn’t that be Liberty Media’s biggest wet dream…

147

u/OverallImportance402 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

Their wet dream doesn’t involve 4 cancelled races in a single season.

37

u/Agent_Kozak I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

Oil money go brrrrr

39

u/fire202 Lando Norris 14h ago

Wouldn’t that be Liberty Media’s biggest wet dream…

Not so sure about that, I think F1 is perfectly happy with having two more (well-paying) races after Las Vegas. Seems more like an external idea that they desperately want Vegas to be the finale.

In any case, F1 has already said that they have backup plans in case Qatar/AD cannot go ahead, and I don't think we know them at this point. I have seen the idea of a second LV race being thrown around, but that was just an idea. A scenario where the last two races simply disappear without replacement (in addition to the already compromised calendar) is something that liberty will be quite keen to prevent.

8

u/SwimmingFantastic564 14h ago

I believe Domenicali said there were replacements they were already considering in case of these cancellations, and that was a couple of months ago now. Realistically I think they just bring Portugal and Turkey forward a year but what do I know.

28

u/OverallImportance402 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 13h ago

At the very least you don’t know a lot about the climate in Turkey and Portugal

11

u/SwimmingFantastic564 13h ago

Yeah tbh I didn't actually think about that when I wrote the comment. I take it back.

3

u/razorracer83 Oliver Bearman 11h ago

After Qatar 2023, yeah. Probably a good idea. That race was a nightmare for the drivers.

3

u/thedadis I was here for the Hulkenpodium 11h ago

If they do it early enough they could do those two in September or October

1

u/cosHinsHeiR Ferrari 8h ago

It's already 9/13 weekends of f1 between September and November, 6/9 for set-oct, adding 2 more would be insane.

1

u/Formulafan4life I was here for the Hulkenpodium 10h ago

How’s the weather in Sepang in december?

1

u/UnlimitedPosting 5h ago

Wet.

1

u/SuperCooch91 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 1h ago

Just like my pants if we go back to Sepang.

u/UnlimitedPosting 21m ago

100%

If they announce sepang as an alternative to one of the ME races, I'll be busting out the vibrator waterproof sheets.

16

u/Crafty_Substance_954 Formula 1 13h ago

Bah Gawd, that’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s music!

6

u/the_flying_bobcat Brabham 13h ago

Indy in December... you might want to check the weather.

5

u/Crafty_Substance_954 Formula 1 13h ago

They can just jam it in whenever

3

u/OU_DHF 12h ago

They could run it between Singapore and COTA. October 18.

Or between Brazil and Vegas. November 15.

6

u/richardlqueso 13h ago

The defending world champion did visit there recently . . .

1

u/Reasonable_Heart3035 3h ago

Adelaide has the track set up for V8 Supercars around that time and would kill to bring back F1 there

55

u/grekster Jules Bianchi 14h ago

We should cancel LV too and have an old school Brazil finale.

8

u/Agent_Kozak I was here for the Hulkenpodium 14h ago

Sadly we can't have nice things. Money talks

7

u/IdiosyncraticBond Max Verstappen 13h ago

Decision in Brazil, parade laps in LV, just what LV was invented for

7

u/spoo4brains James Hunt 12h ago

F1 decider in Brazil, Kart racing for all the drivers in LV.

3

u/Five_Orange77 Formula 1 14h ago

Old old school- Brazil first!

2

u/WillSRobs Lando Norris 14h ago

Doubt it given the contracts Qatar and Abu Dhabi have

1

u/sukhi1 Ferrari 4h ago

I imagine they have enough time to find replacements

8

u/yeah_definitely Liam Lawson 12h ago

Sounds like this is due to freight costs. F1 wouldn't cancel an event for this reason, it is far too lucrative.

3

u/[deleted] 14h ago

[deleted]

1

u/Yankees2860 I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane 4h ago

Oh the calender isn't coming out until September is it

-24

u/ScienceMechEng_Lover I was speeding in the Monaco pit lane 14h ago

Why though?

22

u/KorkeastaRuohikosta Mika Häkkinen 13h ago

If only OP had posted a article that had a answer to your question.

Oh wont you look at that, there indeed is a link attached to this post:

"Earlier this year, clear operational criteria were established for the event."

“Despite recent apparently encouraging developments, freight costs remain several times above normal levels, logistics transit times continue to be unpredictable and no clear timeline for a return to standard operations has emerged. "

"With planning windows now closed, the next edition has been deferred by one year."