F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs because of Middle East war | Formula One 2026
Formula 1 canceled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races due to the war in the Middle East.
The races were scheduled to be held in Bahrain on April 12 and in Saudi Arabia on April 19, but the sport was approaching the point where a decision had to be made to cancel to avoid sending more cargo to Bahrain.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA and F1, acknowledged in a statement that they had no choice but to cancel the races for the safety of everyone.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA will always prioritize the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with this responsibility in mind.”
Bahrain’s Sakhir airstrip is just 20 miles (32 km) from the US base, which is currently the target of Iranian attacks. Some team loads are also already stuck in Bahrain, having failed to move since pre-season testing, and understandably there is no appetite for more equipment to be sent out only to become irretrievable.
Since both races have been cancelled, they are unlikely to be replaced, given the difficulties in finding and logistically sourcing venues at short notice.
Ben Sulayem said: “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season and I look forward to returning to both as soon as conditions allow.” However, the season is likely to continue with 22 meetings, with a five-week gap between the third round in Japan on March 29 and the fourth round in Miami on May 3. In this round, teams will look to further improve their cars while adapting to the new rules of the sport.
