Formula E has postponed the Jeddah double-header that was due to open its new Gen4 era, moving the Saudi Arabian round from 18-19 December to 16-17 April 2027. The championship said the change was agreed with host partner SELA, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the FIA and local public stakeholders, and that the decision was approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Formula E stressed that the total race count and double-header structure in Jeddah remain unchanged.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, which has caused widespread postponements and cancellations of motorsport events in the Middle East this year. While hostilities between Washington and Tehran have cooled in recent months, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past few weeks, targeting civilian infrastructure including airports, and an Aramco tower was struck last weekend while MotoGP was hosting its Qatar Grand Prix.S1S2

Mexico City will now serve as the season opener, with the championship starting at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on 16 January. The 2027 calendar has been reshaped accordingly: the Sanya E-Prix in China, previously set for mid-April, has been brought forward two weeks to 3 April to fill the gap, and the 21-round season continues with Austin on 6 February, Miami two weeks later and Sao Paulo on 13 March.S1S2

Formula 1 has meanwhile pressed on with its Middle East plans, confirming that Imola has been stood down as a reserve race and retaining Qatar at the end of November and Abu Dhabi at the start of December. If the Gulf region destabilises in the coming weeks and makes those races unviable, the season would instead end in Las Vegas. Pre-season testing for the new Gen4 cars begins in Madrid on 16-20 November, with Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein arriving as the defending champion.S1S2