Bahrain, Saudi Arabia F1 races set for cancellation amid regional conflict

Formula 1 is set to cancel its upcoming Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel A formal decision to call off the April races is expected before the end of the weekend The move is being driven by imminent logistical deadlines, as team freight must be shipped to the region in the coming days, and the unacceptable risk posed to personnel

The conflict has included strikes within both host nations, making it too dangerous to proceed with the events The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on April 19

According to sources, neither race will be replaced on the 2026 calendar, which will shorten the season to 22 Grands Prix This decision comes with a significant financial cost for Formula 1, estimated at over £100 million in lost hosting fees, as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are two of the highest-paying venues While alternative European locations such as Portimao in Portugal or Imola in Italy were considered, the timeframe was deemed too short to organize replacement events