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Formula One has called off the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix that had been scheduled for April, citing the conflict in the Middle East and leaving the championship without any races next month.
The decision, taken jointly by Formula One, the FIA, and local promoters, means the 2026 season is now set to run to 22 races instead of 24, with no replacement events lined up for April.
The sport said the decision was difficult but necessary in light of the current regional situation. Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said, "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."
Bahrain had been due to host the fourth round of the season on April 12 at the Sakhir circuit, with Saudi Arabia set to follow one week later at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Both races were planned as night events under floodlights.
The move had been widely expected, as attacks in the region continued and security risks grew more serious. Iranian drones and missiles have struck capitals in the Middle East, including Bahrain's Manama, where team personnel would have been based in hotels during the race weekend.
Airports in the region, including Manama, have also shut down, while Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global trade.
Alongside the security concerns, the calendar was also running into practical pressure. According to informed sources cited by Reuters, the freight deadline for Bahrain was March 20, leaving little room for uncertainty as Formula One moves through its current Asian leg.
The championship is now racing in Shanghai, with Japan next on the schedule on March 29. After that, Miami on May 3 will become the next round, opening up a five-week gap in the calendar. For some teams, including Aston Martin, that break could offer extra time to work on their cars.
The FIA said several alternative venues had been looked at, but it was ultimately decided to leave April empty. Although the statement did not rule out a later return outright, sources said the two Gulf races were also unlikely to be moved to another point in the year because of logistics and weather.
The cancellation does not affect Formula One alone. Formula Two, Formula Three, and F1 Academy, the all-female single-seater series that runs on selected F1 weekends, will also not race at those Middle Eastern rounds.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body had put safety first. In the statement, he said, "The FIA will always place the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues first." He added that the organization hoped for calm, safety, and a swift return to stability in the region.
He also underlined the importance of both venues to the championship, saying Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain central to the racing season and that he looked forward to returning when conditions allow.
The loss of the two rounds is significant not only for the calendar but also for Formula One's finances. Bahrain's hosting fee alone is estimated at around $45 million a year, while Saudi Arabia's is believed to pay even more. Those race fees feed into Formula One's revenues and, in turn, team finances.
Both countries are also closely tied to the sport beyond hosting. Bahrain's Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund owns reigning champions McLaren, while Saudi oil company Aramco is the title sponsor of Aston Martin.
This is the second time Bahrain has lost its race. In 2011, the Grand Prix was canceled during civil unrest in the Gulf kingdom. Saudi Arabia also faced scrutiny in 2022, when missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis hit an oil facility near the Jeddah circuit. That race went ahead only after teams were given safety assurances and drivers held lengthy discussions.
Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal said the kingdom respected the decision not to stage the race as planned. He said Saudi Arabia had been fully prepared to host the event and stressed that it had done so successfully on five previous occasions.
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