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F1 set to cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to war in Middle East as 2026 calendar to drop to 22 races

Formula 1 is set to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix by the end of this weekend due to ongoing Middle East conflict; watch the Chinese GP Sprint live on Sky Sports F1 at 3am on Saturday, followed by full qualifying at 7am

Friday 13 March 2026 18:39, UK

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Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater understands that Formula 1 will cancel the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to conflict in the Middle East

Formula 1's Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April are set to be called off this weekend due to the conflict in the Middle East, reducing the 2026 season to 22 races.

The sport had been due to be in Bahrain for the new season's fourth round on April 10-12 before racing in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah a week later on April 17-19.

But both countries are among the Gulf states to have been struck by Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli air strikes amid the conflict in the region.

Safety is the paramount concern of Formula 1 and the FIA, and the situation in the Middle East has not improved in recent days.

Sky Sports News understands the Middle East races in April will be cancelled by the end of this Sunday and will likely not be replaced on F1's busy March-December schedule, meaning the season would run to 22 Grands Prix weekends.

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix may not take place in April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Image: The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will not take place in April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East

Portugal's Portimato and Italy's Imola circuits have been mooted as possible replacements, but there would not be enough time to organise the events for April.

F1 and the FIA have declined to comment on the matter.

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With no races taking place during April, there will be a five-week gap in the schedule between the Japanese Grand Prix, the season's third round, on March 27-29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3.

F1 is currently in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix where George Russell is on pole for Saturday's Sprint at 3am before full Qualifying at 7am and Sunday's race, also at 7am.

Formula 1 2026 Calendar - Updated

Australia March 6-8 Netherlands August 21-23*
China March 13-15* Italy September 4-6
Japan March 27-29 Madrid September 11-13
Miami May 1-3* Azerbaijan September 24-26
Canada May 22-24* Singapore October 9-11*
Monaco June 5-7 USA October 23-25
Barcelona June 12-14 Mexico Oct 30-Nov 1
Austria June 26-28 Brazil November 6-8
Great Britain July 3-5* Las Vegas November 19-21
Belgium July 17-19 Qatar November 27-29
Hungary July 24-26 Abu Dhabi December 4-6
*denotes Sprint weekend

Sky Sports F1's Chinese GP schedule

Saturday March 14
2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*
4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*
5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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