Formula E Postpones Jeddah Season 13 Opener Amid Middle East Conflict

Formula E has postponed its December 2026 season-opening races in Jeddah until April 2027 because of the deteriorating security situation in Saudi Arabia, delaying the competitive debut of its new GEN4 electric racing cars by almost a month.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship confirmed on Thursday 12 November that the double-header, originally scheduled for 18–19 December 2026, will instead take place on 16–17 April 2027. Mexico City will now host the opening race of the championship on 16 January, with Jeddah becoming rounds six and seven.

The decision follows weeks of missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi movement, raising concerns about the safety of international motorsport events and the logistical problems involved in transporting racing equipment and personnel into the country.

The official Formula E announcement confirms that the revised calendar has received approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The championship says the changes were agreed with its Saudi Arabian partners, including SELA and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.

Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds confirmed the reasons for the postponement during a media briefing, citing the regional conflict and its logistical consequences.

“We will no longer start the season in Jeddah in December as planned,” Dodds told reporters, according to Reuters.

The championship has also rearranged its Chinese race in Sanya, originally scheduled for 17 April. This will now take place on 3 April, allowing Jeddah to occupy its original weekend without reducing the number of races.

Formula E intends to retain all 21 races on its 2026/27 calendar, although the revised schedule remains dependent on the security situation improving sufficiently for the Saudi Arabian event to proceed.

Houthi Attacks Force Motorsport Calendar Changes

The postponement follows an escalation in attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting airports and other civilian infrastructure.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel throughout Saudi Arabia, with even stronger restrictions covering areas close to the Yemeni border.

Its official travel advice specifically identifies Jeddah among the cities at heightened risk of missile and drone attacks. The warning also covers Riyadh, Dammam and Yanbu, alongside airports, military facilities, ports and energy infrastructure.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck by a missile on 10 October. British authorities have subsequently warned that further attacks on airports, together with flight disruption and cancellations, are very likely.

Such warnings present substantial difficulties for an international championship that depends on transporting specialist equipment and personnel between continents. Formula E must arrange freight shipments for its cars, batteries, charging systems and associated equipment, while teams also need to secure flights and accommodation.

Travel insurance presents another complication. The FCDO warns that insurance policies may be invalidated when travellers disregard its advice, potentially making it difficult for teams, contractors and media organisations to arrange appropriate cover.

The championship had previously maintained that Jeddah could proceed despite the deteriorating situation. However, reports emerged in late October suggesting that a postponement had become increasingly likely, with Mexico City identified as the alternative season opener.

The announcement also follows disruption to other international motorsport events in Saudi Arabia. Both the World Rally Championship's planned November finale and the Dakar Rally scheduled for January have been affected by the security situation.

Mexico City Takes Over GEN4 Debut

The postponement is particularly significant because Jeddah was supposed to mark the competitive introduction of Formula E's GEN4 cars, representing the biggest technical overhaul in the championship's history. Jaguar TCS recently launched its GEN4 car in London, alongside new driver Stoffel Vandoorne.

The new vehicles offer considerably greater power and performance than their GEN3 Evo predecessors. Maximum race power increases from 300kW to 450kW, while Attack Mode delivers up to 600kW, equivalent to approximately 804bhp.

For comparison, the outgoing GEN3 Evo cars offered up to 350kW in Attack Mode, making GEN4's peak output more than 70% higher.

The new generation also introduces permanent active all-wheel drive, replacing the more restricted use of front-wheel power in previous cars. Regenerative braking capacity rises to 700kW, while usable race energy increases to 55kWh.

Formula E expects the cars to recover more than 40% of their race energy through regenerative braking. A projected maximum speed of approximately 208mph (335km/h) puts the new vehicles considerably closer to the performance of conventional top-level single-seater racing cars.

There are also two aerodynamic configurations, allowing teams to prioritise downforce or reduced drag depending on the circuit and race conditions.

These developments matter beyond motorsport. Manufacturers including Jaguar, Nissan, Porsche, Citroën, Mahindra, Lola and newcomer Opel are participating in the GEN4 era, using the championship to develop expertise in electric powertrains, energy management and high-performance vehicle control.

The technology does not necessarily transfer directly into production electric cars, but the extreme demands of Formula E provide manufacturers with opportunities to improve the efficiency and performance of electric propulsion systems.

Pre-season testing remains scheduled for Spain's Jarama circuit from 16–20 November. This will now be followed by a longer interval before the first competitive race in Mexico City.

The additional preparation time could prove useful as teams become accustomed to the substantially more powerful cars, although it also means that spectators will have to wait until January to see how the new technology performs in competition.

Jeddah Remains on the Calendar, For Now

Formula E's decision to reschedule rather than cancel Jeddah reflects the importance of its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The country has hosted Formula E since December 2018, initially at Diriyah near Riyadh. The championship relocated its Saudi Arabian races to Jeddah in February 2025, using a modified version of the Corniche circuit that also hosts Formula 1.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is a major commercial partner of Formula E and holds a minority stake in the championship.

Dodds has made clear that retaining the Saudi Arabian races remains a priority. However, he has also acknowledged that April is not guaranteed.

According to Reuters' reporting, Formula E expects to assess the viability of the rescheduled races by mid-to-late February. If conditions have not improved, the championship could face a reduced calendar rather than immediately seeking an alternative venue.

For spectators who have already purchased tickets for December, Formula E says official ticketing partners will contact customers with details of validity for the new dates, transfers and refunds.

The revised championship calendar will begin in Mexico City before visiting Austin, Miami and São Paulo. Sanya follows on 3 April, ahead of Jeddah's proposed double-header two weeks later.

British spectators will still have a home round to look forward to, with the London E-Prix scheduled for Brands Hatch on 29–30 May 2027.

The immediate consequence is that Formula E will not hold its planned December curtain-raiser, leaving the new championship without a race in 2026. Instead, the entire season is scheduled to unfold over approximately seven months in 2027.

Whether Jeddah can return in April will depend on developments outside Formula E's control. For now, the championship has preserved its planned 21-race programme, but the continuing security crisis leaves the Saudi Arabian double-header uncertain.