Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled amid war in the Middle East
· Yahoo Sports
Formula 1 was gearing up for its early-season swing when plans changed fast. The sport had been due in Bahrain from April 10–12 and then in Saudi Arabia from April 17–19. Those rounds are now set to be called off, sources say.
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Sky Sports News broke the report and said, “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix will not now go ahead. Safety is the paramount concern of Formula One and the FIA and the situation in the Middle East has not improved in recent days.” ESPN later confirmed similar reporting.
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The cancellations follow strikes and counterstrikes tied to the conflict between Israel and Iran, which were prompted by wider air strikes involving the United States. Event logistics are tight, and teams must ship freight weeks in advance. Organizers said it is unsafe to proceed.
F1 and the FIA have declined detailed comment. The move cuts the season from 24 races to 22. It also creates a five-week gap between Japan’s round and the Miami race. Japan was due to host the third round on March 27–29, with Miami scheduled for May 1–3.
BREAKING: Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not go ahead due to the conflict in the Middle East, Sky Sports News understands.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 13, 2026
The races were scheduled on consecutive weekends in mid-April.https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/6ShRAZnHvx
Teams discussed replacement tracks such as Portimao, Imola and Istanbul Park. But time and logistics made that unlikely. The sport faces a commercial hit, estimated in media at over £100 million.
Drivers waited for clarity. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said he trusts leadership and quoted F1’s chief: “I know that [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] will do what is right for all of us and the sport.” Stefano Domenicali was named in that remark.
For now, the paddock will reshuffle plans. Safety, officials say, came first.
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