F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has admitted that a decision on whether to host a race in Bahrain this year must be made before the summer break.

The event, along with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, was cancelled due to the situation in the Middle East.

This meant the original 24-race schedule was reduced to 22, meaning a revenue stream hit for F1 and the teams.

The ongoing situation in the Middle East has led to all manner of speculation about whether the Bahrain event might yet go ahead and Domenicali admits that a decision has to be made soon.

"I think that the gap to do the eventual possibility of doing one of the races that we have not done, we need to do it before the summer break," he told Sky Sports at the weekend.

If given the green light, the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix would take place on 4 October, sandwiched between the races in Azerbaijan and Singapore.

However, this would mean no less than nine races in just eleven weeks, three triple-headers, fine for the bank balances of FOM and the teams but placing a very heavy burden on those at the coal face.

"If there is something that we can announce also related to the possibility of seeing if there is any space for what has not been done so far, we're going to do it, in the right moment and the right conditions," added Domenicali.

"That is really the hope, because if all the conditions are right, we're going to go ahead with our plan. If there is a chance, why not?"

Of course, such is the situation in the Middle East, which appears to change almost on a daily basis, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events could yet be cancelled also, however a rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix would seemingly put all minds at rest.

That said, though there is no official confirmation, it is claimed that should the situation in the Middle East worsen, Portimao, which returns to the calendar next year, could step in and host the new season finale following the race in Las Vegas.