Formula 1 confirm Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races cancelled amid ongoing conflict

Formula 1 have officially cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the hostilities in the Middle East.

F1 and the FIA have been monitoring the situation since the conflict began with Iran retaliating to US-Israeli air strikes in the Gulf region.

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However, organisers have now decided not to allow fans, drivers or teams to travel to either country and for the races to take place.

There are currently no plans to replace the Bahrain and Saudi events, meaning the 2026 season will only have 22 Grands Prix.

The loss of the two races also means the midseason compression test will happen after five races, not seven.

Scrapped

Formula 1 announced the cancellation of the two races on Saturday night.

An X post read: “The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.

“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East the Grands Prix, alongside F2, F3, and F1 Academy rounds, will not take place as scheduled.

“While alternatives were considered, no substitutions will be made in April.”

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, meanwhile remarked: “While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion.

“We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so.”

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FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated: “The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first.

“After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.

“We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.”

The double cancellation marks the first time that an F1 race has been called off since the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

After the Japanese Grand Prix, there will now be a month break until Formula 1 arrives in Miami at the beginning of May.

Both Grands Prix will be missed by fans after the drama that happened last season, when every race had major implications for the World Championship winner.

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The 2025 Bahrain GP witnessed an Oscar Piastri domination as he won with a 15-point buffer to the next-best finisher, while Lando Norris managed to fight his way up the grid to win a crucial 15 points.

However, Max Verstappen struggled and finished with a disappointing sixth.

In Saudi Arabia, the eventual championship winner, Norris, crashed and qualified in tenth, putting him on the back foot for the race.

His McLaren teammate Piastri won the race, his third in the opening five races, to take the lead in the World Drivers’ Championship.

However, he was powerless to stop Norris coming home strong in the second half of the season as the Brit claimed his maiden world title.