Formula E eyes Saudi Arabia season opener, Mexico as contingency

Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds said the championship is confident the 2026‑27 season will begin in Saudi Arabia, with two races scheduled in Jeddah on Dec. 18‑19. If regional developments make the Saudi opening untenable, the series will move the first race to Mexico City on Jan. 16 as a backup.

The decision will be taken after mid‑September, as the series monitors the security situation, including the Houthi naval blockade of Saudi ports in the Red Sea. Formula E’s contingency plan mirrors similar logistical reviews by Formula One and the World Rally Championship, which also face possible schedule changes in the Middle East.

Dodds emphasized that the championship will ship cars and equipment based on the latest assessments and that no alternative December race would replace a cancelled Saudi event; the season would simply start in January in Mexico if needed.