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According to the BBC, Formula 1 is reportedly considering canceling the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled for April, due to tensions and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to reports from the BBC, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled for April, could be canceled due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. No official announcement has yet been made by Formula 1 or the FIA, but a decision is expected in the coming days.
A decision driven by logistical constraints
According to the BBC, F1 is expected to make a quick decision due to the championship's logistical constraints. Teams' cargo is normally scheduled to begin shipping to the Middle East in the coming days.
In the current context, marked by the conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, organizing the two races could pose too great a risk for paddock personnel.
The security situation on the ground is also reportedly a cause for concern. Bahrain's capital has reportedly already been targeted by missile strikes, while Jeddah is also considered too risky to host a major global sporting event.
If the decision is confirmed, the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for April 12 and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix scheduled for the following weekend would simply be removed from the calendar.
Options considered… but ruled out
In light of this possible cancellation, several circuits were reportedly considered as alternatives. The BBC mentions, in particular, Portimão in Portugal, Imola in Italy, and Istanbul Park in Turkey.
However, these options were ultimately deemed unrealistic. The timeframe for organizing a Grand Prix at one of these circuits would be too short, particularly in terms of logistics and organization. Furthermore, it would have been difficult to quickly secure a hosting fee comparable to those paid by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Formula 1 could therefore choose to not replace either of the two races.
A significant financial loss for F1
The cancellation of these two races would therefore represent a significant loss of revenue, which the BBC estimates at over 100 million pounds for the Formula 1 ecosystem, or approximately 115 million euros.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are indeed among the promoters paying the highest hosting fees on the calendar. This revenue is then distributed among the teams and the holder of the championship's commercial rights.
Every stakeholder in the paddock could therefore face a shortfall of tens of millions of euros, depending on the final distribution of the bonuses.
A season reduced to 22 races?
If this scenario were to materialize, the 2026 season would be reduced from 24 to 22 Grand Prix races. The calendar would also be significantly altered.
Formula 1 would then have a break of about five weeks between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
For now, no official confirmation has been given. But according to the BBC, a decision is expected soon, possibly even before the end of the race weekend in China, given the championship's logistical requirements.
