Travel disruptions from Middle East crisis disrupt Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix

As many as a thousand people linked to the Formula One world have had to scramble with last‑minute travel changes to reach Melbourne for the season‑opening race amid the worsening Middle‑East crisis, and a few may miss the first weekend altogether.

A bigger logistical problem was averted, however, because the cars and their support gear had already been dispatched from last month’s testing in Bahrain – one of the nations now embroiled in the conflict – before this week’s widespread flight disruptions began.

Travis Auld, chief executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, told Channel Nine on Monday that the machines were already parked on Albert Park’s main straight inside containers, ready to be moved into the pits for the Formula One weekend that kicks off with practice on Friday.

He noted that many personnel have been forced to rearrange their journeys to steer clear of international airports in places such as Qatar and the UAE, which have come under Iranian missile strikes.

“You’re talking about teams, drivers, Formula One staff – I’d estimate close to a thousand people who had already booked flights and were due to arrive today, tomorrow or Wednesday – all of those bookings had to be altered,” he said.

“But travellers around the globe are facing the same issue, so demand has spiked, yet they have managed to sort it out.”

As a sport that travels the world and has deep financial ties to the Middle East, Formula One has felt the impact of recent events acutely.

The fourth round is still set for Bahrain in early April, with the fifth round in Saudi Arabia a week later, though officials say they are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Tyre supplier Pirelli called off wet‑weather testing in Bahrain because of the hostilities, yet some of its crew remain stranded in Manama, one of the locations hit by a drone strike.

Reports indicate that members of the McLaren and Mercedes camps were also still in Bahrain, including Mercedes’ new third driver Frederik Vesti, who posted from the circuit two days ago.

Auld assured supporters that the familiar faces of Formula One will be on display in Melbourne, even if not everyone manages to arrive.

“The drivers will be here, the engineers will be here, the team principals will be here – they have been given travel priority, so you won’t see any surprise drivers in helmets,” he explained.

“Some of the other staff are still on their way; the race could go on without them, but fortunately we have been able to get everyone essential to the event into Melbourne.”