F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to Middle East conflict: Details

Formula 1 has cancelled next month’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, reducing the 2026 calendar to 22 races and creating an extended break in the season.

The races scheduled in Sakhir on April 12 and Jeddah on April 19 will not take place because of security concerns and logistical challenges linked to the conflict in the region.The decision follows weeks of uncertainty after hostilities began on February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran, triggering a broader regional conflict that disrupted travel and raised security risks, according to Xinhua.

Several countries in the region also closed their airspace after the strikes. Formula 1 and the FIA, the sport’s governing body, had been monitoring the situation but faced increasing pressure to decide as freight deadlines approached.

Teams would have needed to send equipment to the Middle East within days for the events to proceed.The cancellations create a 35-day gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, leaving the championship without a race throughout April.

Formula 1 considered possible replacement venues including Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Istanbul Park in Turkiye, which hosted races during the disrupted 2020 season. However, the limited time to organise an event and difficulties in securing hosting fees made replacements impractical.

With the season initially planned for 24 races, there was also little incentive to add new rounds at short notice.The loss of the two Middle Eastern races is also expected to have financial consequences. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay among the highest hosting fees on the calendar, and the cancellations could cost Formula 1 and its teams more than 130 million U.S. dollars in revenue. Teams receive a share of the sport’s commercial income, meaning the financial impact will be spread across the grid. With the Bahrain and Saudi races removed, the championship will resume in Miami after the break following the Japanese Grand Prix, with the rest of the season expected to continue as planned.The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix shows how global events can affect international sporting competitions such as Formula 1, where geopolitical tensions and security concerns can force changes to the race calendar. Formula 1 runs on a tightly planned global schedule, and disruptions can create difficulties for teams, organisers and broadcasters. Airspace closures and uncertainty over travel routes also affected preparations for the races.For the 2026 season, the cancellations create a long break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix, leaving April without a race. While the gap may allow teams additional preparation time, it also interrupts the flow of the championship. The rest of the season is expected to proceed as planned, illustrating how the sport must adapt when external developments disrupt its schedule.