F1 confirms cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races
Why it matters: Safety concerns force a schedule cut, reshaping the season’s rhythm and sponsor exposure.
- F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, citing safety amid ongoing conflict, and will not replace them in the 2026 schedule (official announcement).
- Stefano Domenicali, F1 President & CEO, says the decision is difficult but necessary, thanks promoters, and vows a return when conditions improve.
- Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president, stresses safety first, hopes for calm, and notes the Gulf venues’ importance to the championship.
- F2, F3 and F1 Academy rounds scheduled for the same April window are also cancelled, creating a five‑week gap between Japan (Mar 27‑29) and Miami (May 1‑3).
Formula 1 has scrapped its April Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix after Iranian attacks sparked a Middle‑East crisis, trimming the 2026 calendar to 22 races and leaving a five‑week lull before Miami.
