- A sudden gap in the F1 calendar sparks bold move from South Australia’s leader.
- A direct call to the top of Formula 1 maybe opens a brief window of opportunity.
- Big ambition meets reality as Adelaide’s push for a Grand Prix runs into problems.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas made a direct pitch to bring Formula 1 back to Adelaide after two races in the Middle East were cancelled in 2026.
He called Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as soon as the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were officially dropped due to the ongoing war in the region. The approach came quickly, but Formula 1 chose not to replace the cancelled rounds.
The cancelled races and the call that followed
On March 15, Formula 1 confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races would not go ahead in April. The sport had delayed the decision, hoping conditions would improve, but the conflict forced its hand.
Malinauskas moved as soon as the announcement came. Speaking on the Triple M podcast, as reported by FOX Sports, he said he had already been preparing for such a moment. He picked up the phone and contacted Domenicali directly.
“I reached out to Stefano Domenicali, who is the CEO of F1,” Malinauskas said. “I’ve been working on this a little bit for a while, and when the events got cancelled because of the Iran war, I was straight on the phone to them.”
The timing of the call was rather interesting. Domenicali was with Australian media figure Eddie McGuire when the Premier reached out. Malinauskas saw a brief opening and acted.
“As soon as it became obvious that they were not going to be racing in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, I was like, ‘Hello, is this an opportunity?'” he said. “I put it out to them. I said, ‘Listen, I’ve got the team, they’ve worked the numbers. We can set the track up on these timelines’.”
Formula 1 acknowledged the idea but declined. “They said, ‘Look, leave it with us’, but they’ve decided to cancel those races and not replace them,” he said.
McGuire later confirmed the exchange in an interview with FIVEaa. He said he had been pushing for a second race in Melbourne at the same time. “He did everything right,” McGuire said of Malinauskas. “It’s only that in the end, Formula 1 said no.”
Malinauskas said he kept the effort private because it was an early-stage approach. “You’ve got to be in it to win it, but I wasn’t putting it out there publicly because it was an initial reach-out. I rang them directly,” he said.
Why the bid was always an uphill battle
Even with quick action, the plan faced major hurdles. Formula 1’s global freight system runs months ahead, with equipment sent by sea for races outside Europe. Changing that plan at short notice is difficult and expensive.
Adelaide’s location added to the challenge. Moving equipment there on short notice would have required a major shift in logistics.
Building a street circuit also takes time and money. As FOX Sports reported, the South Australian government had entered a caretaker period before an election, which limits major decisions and contracts. That added another barrier.
The circuit itself is no longer approved for Formula 1 racing. It would need upgrades and official checks before it could host an event. That process alone could take longer than the available window.
Other options faced similar problems. A second race in Melbourne was also explored, but local rules limit how long Albert Park can be closed. The venue is also set for construction work, making it unavailable.
Adelaide’s Formula 1 heritage
The push was not just about opportunity. Adelaide has a strong history with Formula 1. The city hosted the Australian Grand Prix from 1985 to 1995.
The race often decided the world title and drew large crowds. It became known for its atmosphere and drama. The move to Melbourne in 1996 remains a sore point in South Australia.
Parts of the old circuit still exist. Adelaide now hosts the Supercars season finale on sections of the track. The city will also host a motorcycle grand prix from 2027 after securing a long-term deal.
Malinauskas’s attempt showed ambition, even if the odds were low. Logistics, cost, regulations, and Melbourne’s place on the calendar all worked against the plan.
Still, the effort revealed how strongly he believes in Adelaide’s place in global motorsport. As he put it plainly, “You’ve got to be in it to win it.”
