How Iran war impacts F1, but can't dent fanbase
Formula One (F1) just took a $1.9 billion hit to its market value, thanks to the ongoing Iran war and unrest in the Middle East.
While the 2026 season still kicks off this weekend in Melbourne, there's a big question mark over races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Even so, F1's fanbase is strong, especially in the US where Netflix's Drive to Survive keeps excitement high.
Impact of conflict on F1
The conflict has already led to the FIA postponing Qatar's 1,812-kilometer race, highlighting how much F1 depends on Middle Eastern venues: four races are held there, including key finales.
Plus, with major investments from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi backing teams like Aston Martin and McLaren, any regional instability makes things tricky for everyone involved.
Still, Liberty Media (which bought F1 for $4.4 billion back in 2017) is holding steady with a market value above $21 billion.