Formula 1 is expected to announce within 48 hours whether to cancel its Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April, due to escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision follows a 10-day deadline set after talks at the Australian Grand Prix, driven by logistical challenges from the ongoing US and Israeli war on Iran. Both races are likely to be axed, creating a six-week gap in the 2026 calendar.
F1 faces cancellation of Middle East races
Formula 1 management is set to make a final call on the fate of the Bahrain Grand Prix on 12 April and the subsequent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, as regional hostilities intensify. Following discussions at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix, F1 established a 10-day deadline for the decision, primarily influenced by freight logistics to the Gulf amid the US and Israeli war on Iran.
The two races are logistically linked, making it challenging to hold one without the other, though there was some optimism about salvaging the Jeddah event. Some team and Pirelli freight remains in Bahrain from pre-season testing, but additional shipments must depart imminently for the 12 April date. Personnel would need to travel from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia to facilitate this, complicating matters further.
As of Friday, 13 March, the situation has worsened. Iran struck fuel and oil storage tanks in Bahrain on Thursday, following an earlier attack on the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters near Manama. The conflict, which began on 28 February with the US killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shows no signs of abating. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, with vessels reportedly struck off the United Arab Emirates and Basra. Bahrain International Airport remains closed to flights, while Jeddah and Riyadh airports operate normally.
Multiple reports suggest both races will be canceled, with an announcement expected within 48 hours. Losing these events would eliminate April racing, opening a six-week break between the Japan and Miami rounds on the 2026 calendar.
Replacement races in Europe, such as at Portimao or Imola, are deemed impractical due to logistical and commercial hurdles. The first European round is Monaco on 7 June, and last-minute additions would strain preparations, local authorities, and ticket sales. Promoters for Bahrain and Saudi pay hosting fees exceeding 100 million euros combined, representing a financial hit, though McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated in Australia: "I think given what's going on, we're not bothered if it does have a little bit of a financial impact."
The calendar will still meet the minimum 22 races required for TV contracts without these events. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed confidence on Thursday in F1 chief Stefano Domenicali to "do what's right for all of us." Later rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi face separate contingency considerations.
