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09/16 04:11 CDT Formula 1 schedules 2027 season-opening race in Bahrain in March despite Middle East uncertainty Formula 1 schedules 2027 season-opening race in Bahrain in March despite Middle East uncertainty LONDON (AP) --- Formula 1 plans to open the 2027 season in Bahrain even as uncertainty remains over this year's races in the Middle East. F1 released a schedule for 2027 on Wednesday starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14 and more events in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. All have long-term contracts to host F1 and Bahrain also hosts preseason testing in February. Races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off this year due to the Iran war. An extra race in Malaysia next month will have Bahrain Grand Prix branding. The Qatar Grand Prix on Nov. 29 and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 6 remain on the schedule although F1 has considered a change to Europe if they can't go ahead.

More sprint races, including in Monaco F1 is also expanding from six to 10 sprint races in 2027, including a first at the Monaco Grand Prix, where overtaking is almost impossible. A sprint is also scheduled for the season-opening race in Bahrain. That would mark the first time an F1 season has begun with a short-format race before the first Grand Prix of the year. F1 returns to Portugal in June for the first time since 2021 as the Portimao circuit replaces the Dutch Grand Prix, while the Turkish Grand Prix is also back in October 2027 after signing a five-year contract in April. There will be no race at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona for the first time since 1990. It lost the title of Spanish Grand Prix to Madrid this year but stayed on under Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix branding. It will now alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix and next returns in 2028. ___ See AP's full auto racing coverage here