F1 Cancels Bahrain, Saudi Arabia Races Amid Middle East Conflict

The 2026 Formula 1 season will now feature 22 races instead of the originally planned 24.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:25pm

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Formula 1 has scrapped the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races scheduled for April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The decision was made following joint discussions between F1 and the FIA, the sport's governing body, as the region faces heightened security concerns and disruptions to travel and logistics.

Why it matters

The cancellation of these two high-profile races will have significant commercial implications for Formula 1, with the lost hosting fees from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia estimated to exceed £100 million. It also creates a five-week gap in the 2026 F1 calendar between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix, disrupting the season's momentum.

The details

The Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit had been scheduled for April 10-12, while the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah was planned for April 17-19. With both events removed from the calendar and no replacements arranged, the 2026 Formula 1 season will now feature 22 races instead of the originally planned 24. The cancellations also affect the FIA Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy support categories, which were scheduled to race during the Bahrain-Saudi Arabia doubleheader.

  • The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April 10-12, 2026.
  • The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April 17-19, 2026.

The players

Formula 1

The highest class of international racing for open-wheel formula racing cars.

FIA

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body of Formula 1 and other motorsport events.

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What’s next

Formula 1 is evaluating alternative circuits, including Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy, and Istanbul in Turkey, to potentially replace the cancelled races, but logistics and ticket sales make a quick replacement impractical.

The takeaway

The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix highlights the significant impact that geopolitical conflicts can have on the global motorsport calendar. Formula 1 must now navigate the commercial and logistical challenges posed by these unexpected changes to the 2026 season.