F1 scraps Bahrain, Saudi Arabia races amid Iran conflict: reports
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The fourth round of races in the new season of Formula 1, planned to be held in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month, are no longer expected to proceed as planned.
Citing sources, ESPN reported that F1 officials have agreed to cancel events due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Sky News He was the first to report the cancellation.
While the Bahrain race was planned to be held on April 12, the race in Saudi Arabia was planned to start in Jeddah on April 19. Following a series of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were hit by missile strikes as Iran retaliated.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso races during the Miami F1 Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida on May 7, 2023. (Eva Marie Uzcategul T/Anadolu Agency, via Getty Images)
Although it is not yet clear what the conflict will be like when the races are scheduled to start, F1 teams will need to start sending cargo to the region soon in preparation for both races. The shortened timeline likely led decision-makers to reach a conclusion now.
There is no information whether the Middle East races will be postponed to a later date. But there’s little room to move things forward in the rest of this year’s calendar.
The F1 logo is displayed at the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 6, 2025. (Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Given the uncertainty, F1 has reportedly decided to avoid any disruption to the championship if a race is canceled later in the calendar.
LIV GOLFLER DEAL WITH A ‘TERRIBLE’ EXPERIENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHEN THE CONFLICT BEGIN IN IRAN
The reduced schedule of 22 races in 2026 also creates a five-week gap between the season’s third round in Japan and the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 3.
Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12), driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16, leads Great Britain’s Lando Norris, driving the McLaren MCL39 Mercedes (4), during the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
There was no immediate response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Formula 1.
On Thursday, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said he was confident F1 would make the best decision.
CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“I know that [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] Hamilton said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix: “We will do what is right for all of us and for the sport.” “That’s the great thing about having a great leader like him.”
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
