Formula One is poised to cancel the upcoming Grand Prix events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict in the region. The races were originally scheduled for April as part of the 2026 season, with the Bahrain GP set for April 10-12 and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah the following weekend.
The decision to cancel both races comes as a result of the conflict involving Iran, the USA, and Israel. This move will reduce the season’s schedule from 24 races to 22. While both Formula One (F1) and the FIA have not officially commented on the situation, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed the organization’s close monitoring of the developments and emphasized safety as a top priority.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged the deep impact of the conflict on affected communities and emphasized the importance of unity during these challenging times. With the cancellation of the races, there will be no F1 action in April, leading to a five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix in May.
In other F1 news, British driver George Russell is set to start on pole for Saturday’s Sprint at the ongoing Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Russell, representing Mercedes, currently leads the early driver standings with 25 points. His teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, follows closely in second place. Reigning champion Lando Norris is in fifth position with ten points.
Fans of Formula 1 can enjoy live coverage of all the racing action by subscribing to Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which offers significant savings along with access to around 100 TV channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.