Formula 1 | The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix have been officially cancelled.

The 2026 Formula 1 World Championship has undergone a sudden change in its seasonal schedule. In an official statement, Liberty Media and the FIA ​​have confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, initially scheduled for April, will not take place. The decision, reached after weeks of intense consultations, stems from the current and troubling geopolitical situation affecting the entire Middle East. Despite extensive efforts to find alternative logistical solutions or rescheduled dates, the April gap in the calendar will remain: no replacement races are scheduled at other circuits, effectively forcing the Formula 1 world championship into a forced hiatus.

The cancellation doesn't just affect the top category. The preparatory championships, namely Formula 2 and Formula 3, along with the F1 Academy, also have their scheduled events at the Sakhir and Jeddah tracks canceled. This represents a severe blow to the sporting and logistical schedules of the teams, who had already planned transoceanic shipments of materials.

The context: instability in the Middle East

The decision not to race in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia was not driven by organizational issues at the individual tracks, which indeed stated they were ready to host the event, but by the need to ensure the complete safety of staff and spectators. The war in the Middle East, which has seen an unprecedented escalation of tensions in recent months, has made air corridors and logistical routes to the Persian Gulf extremely complex to manage.

In particular, the risk associated with the security of critical infrastructure and the possibility of sudden airspace closures have prompted the International Federation to adopt the principle of maximum prudence. Formula 1, moving thousands of people and tons of sensitive equipment, cannot afford margins of uncertainty in contexts where regional stability is compromised by active conflicts and direct threats to shipping and flight routes.

The decision was jointly ratified by Stefano Domenicali, on behalf of LibertyMedia, and the Mohammed Ben Sulayem, representing the FIA. Both emphasized that the safety of those involved in the championship must prevail over any commercial or sporting interests.

These words Stefano domenicali, CEO of Formula 1: “Although this is a difficult decision, I believe it is the most correct one to make at this stage, given the delicate situation currently affecting the Middle East. I would like to thank the International Federation and our exceptional local promoters for their support and full understanding, as they were preparing to welcome us with their usual enthusiasm. Our goal remains to return to racing in these territories as soon as the general conditions allow.”

He expressed himself on the same wavelength Mohammed Ben SulayemFIA President: “For the Federation, the protection and safety of our entire community and our employees will always be our top priority. We have made this decision after meticulous consideration, acting with the sense of responsibility that our role demands. We hope that calm and stability will soon return to the entire region; my sincere thoughts go out to everyone affected by these dramatic events. Both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia play a central role in our championship, and I sincerely hope to be able to visit them again as soon as possible. I express my gratitude to the promoters and all our partners for addressing this situation with a constructive and collaborative spirit.”

The position of local promoters

The Bahrain International Circuit and the Saudi Motorsport Company welcomed the news with regret but with full respect for the reasons expressed by F1. Both countries are now key players in the sport's economy, not only due to the value of the existing contracts but also for the cutting-edge infrastructure made available to the teams.

Lo sceicco Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, head of the Bahrain International Circuit, commented: “We fully support the decision made by the Formula 1 leadership and are grateful to the FIA ​​for their continued support and strong partnership. We look forward to welcoming fans from around the world back to the Bahrain International Circuit. I would personally like to thank all the members of the motorsport community who have sent us messages of support and affection in recent hours.”

A note of understanding also arrived from Jeddah, signed by the Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-FaisalThe Saudi Automobile and Motorcycling Federation welcomes and respects the changes made by Formula 1 to the 2026 season calendar. We know that fans in the Kingdom have been eagerly awaiting the Jeddah round scheduled for this April, but we fully understand the underlying reasons behind this decision. We will continue our work in close collaboration with the world championship organization.

The absence of races in April will mean an unusually long break for the drivers, who will find themselves having to manage a period of forced inactivity right in the opening phase of the championship. This unexpected "stoppage" could benefit teams that started the season with technical or development issues, giving them extra time to work on their cars at the factory without the pressure of travel.