Formula 1 has officially scrapped both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April, citing the escalating Middle East conflict as the determining factor.
The announcement, made this evening ahead of tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix, confirms that the 2026 championship will now comprise just 22 races rather than the originally planned 24.
The decision follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the fourth and fifth rounds of the season, with organisers facing an imminent logistical deadline regarding freight and personnel movements to the region.
Neither event will be rescheduled or substituted with alternative venues, marking a significant reduction to this year's racing calendar.
The Bahrain and Saudi Grand Prixs have been cancelled
| GETTYThe cancellations stem from the deteriorating security situation across the Gulf region following US-Israeli military action against Iran.
Since the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February, retaliatory strikes have targeted multiple Gulf states, with Bahrain among those affected.
Both nations had been preparing to host back-to-back race weekends, with Bahrain scheduled for 10-12 April and Jeddah the following weekend from 17-19 April.
With no clear end to hostilities in sight, F1 faced an impossible situation regarding the safety of its travelling personnel and equipment. The sport simply had no viable option but to withdraw from both venues.
The championship now faces an unprecedented five-week hiatus between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and the Miami Grand Prix, which begins on 1 May.
Smoke rises from a fire in Tehran, as the Israel-Iran air war continues | REUTERSDespite exploring potential replacement venues, including the Portuguese circuit at Portimão and Italy's Imola, the logistical complexities and commercial considerations proved insurmountable.
The already congested 2026 schedule offered no opportunity to reschedule either Middle Eastern round later in the year.
Beyond the headline Formula 1 events, the supporting championships have also been affected.
The FIA Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds that were due to take place during the Bahrain-Saudi Arabia double-header have likewise been cancelled.
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating: "While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East."
He expressed gratitude to both the FIA and the affected promoters for their understanding.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasised that safety remained paramount, declaring: "The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first."
Ben Sulayem described both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as "incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season" and confirmed his intention to return to both nations once stability is restored.