Formula 1 postpones Bahrain and Saudi races
Formula 1 has officially postponed the two races set to take place in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The fourth and fifth rounds of the 2026 championship were due to take place on April 12 and 19 respectively, but since military action was launched by the United States and Israel against Iran two weeks ago, retaliatory strikes against a number of Gulf states have brought the safety of hosting an event in the region into question.
“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,” F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “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.”
As reported by RACER during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, no replacements will be put in place, meaning the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 will be the final race before a five-week break, with the season resuming on May 3 in Miami.
While the official announcement simply states the races “will not be replaced in April,” RACER understands a rescheduling this season is highly unlikely, and the 2026 Formula 1 season will therefore be a 22-race schedule.
“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first," FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. "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.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.”
The Bahrain race organizers say they “fully support the decision” made by Formula 1, while the Saudi Arabian promoter says they “respect the decision” and “understand the considerations” behind it.
With no replacement races arranged at short notice, F1 is due to take a hit financially on the lost race-hosting fees, with the Middle Eastern events among the most lucrative on the calendar. The cancellation also affects Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy races that were due to take place as support events during that period.
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