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The fourth round of races in Formula 1’s new season, scheduled for next month in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, is no longer expected to go ahead as planned.
ESPN, citing sources, reported that F1 officials agreed to cancel the events amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Sky News was the first to report the cancellation.
The Bahrain race was scheduled for April 12, while the event in Saudi Arabia was scheduled to begin on April 19 in the city of Jeddah. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have both been hit by missile attacks in Iran’s retaliation following a series of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
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Driver Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin competes during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome on May 7, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Eva Marie Uzcategul T/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
While it remains unclear what state the conflict will be in around the dates the races were scheduled to begin, F1 teams would soon have to begin sending cargo to the region in preparation for both events. The condensed timeline likely caused decision makers to reach a conclusion now.
There is no word on whether the Middle East races will be moved to a later date. However, there is little room in the rest of the year’s calendar to move the events.
The F1 logo is displayed during the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 6, 2025. (Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Given the uncertainty, F1 reportedly took the decision to avoid any disruption to the championship should a race be called off later in the calendar.
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The reduced 22-race 2026 schedule also creates a gap of five weeks between the season’s third round in Japan and the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for May 3.
Italy’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12), driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16, leads Britain’s Lando Norris, driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
A request for comment from Pakinomist Digital about Formula 1 was not immediately returned.
On Thursday, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said he was confident F1 would make the best decision.
“I know that [F1 CEO] Stephen [Domenicali] will do what’s right for all of us and the sport,” Hamilton said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. “That’s the great thing about having a great leader like him.”
