Trending Now - F1 Faces Cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix
WHO:
Formula 1 (F1)
Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
Stefano Domenicali, F1 CEO
WHAT:
F1 is set to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix.
The Bahrain race was scheduled for April 12, 2026.
The Saudi Arabia race was scheduled for April 19, 2026.
The 2026 F1 schedule will be reduced from 24 to 22 races.
There is a five-week gap between the third round in Japan on March 29, 2026, and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, 2026.
WHERE:
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Japan
WHEN:
A final decision on the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix is expected to be announced within the next 48 hours from March 13, 2026.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12, 2026.
The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was scheduled for April 19, 2026.
The third round of the season in Japan is on March 29, 2026.
The Miami Grand Prix is scheduled for May 3, 2026.
WHY:
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which escalated after the U.S. killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, has led to missile strikes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, prompting the cancellation of the races.
The cancellation is due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been hit by missile strikes during Iran's retaliation.
HOW:
F1 had set a 10-day deadline to make a final call on the races, largely dictated by the logistics of freight preparation for the events.
F1 officials made the decision to cancel the races to avoid disruption to the championship and logistical issues related to freight preparation for the events.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 05:21 UTC)
A final decision on the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix is expected to be announced within the next 48 hours. This comes in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which escalated after the U.S. killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, leading to missile strikes in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Formula 1 has set a 10-day deadline to make this call, primarily due to the logistics involved in preparing for the races.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 23:08 UTC)
In a significant development, Formula 1 has announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, which were scheduled for April 12 and April 19, 2026, respectively. This decision comes amid ongoing conflict involving Iran, as both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have experienced missile strikes during Iran's retaliation, prompting F1 officials to reduce the 2026 schedule from 24 to 22 races to avoid disruptions. The next race will take place in Japan on March 29, followed by a five-week gap before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.