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The fourth round of the new Formula 1 season, scheduled for next month in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, is no longer expected to take place as planned.
ESPN, citing sources, reported that F1 officials had agreed to cancel the events amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Sky News was the first to announce the cancellation.
The Bahrain race was scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabia race was scheduled to start on April 19 in the city of Jeddah. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were both hit by missile strikes in Iranian retaliation after a series of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
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Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso competes in the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome on May 7, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Eva Marie Uzcategul T/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Although it is unclear how close the conflict will be to the scheduled start dates of the races, F1 teams are expected to soon begin sending cargo to the region in preparation for both events. The condensed timeline likely prompted decision-makers to reach a conclusion now.
It is unclear whether the Middle East races will be postponed to a later date. However, there is little room left on the remainder of this year’s calendar to move events.
The F1 logo is displayed during the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 6, 2025. (Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Given the uncertainty, F1 has reportedly made the decision to avoid any disruption to the championship if a race is canceled later in the calendar.
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The 2026 calendar reduced to 22 races also creates a five-week gap between the third round of the season in Japan and the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 3.
Italy’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12), driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16, leads Great Britain’s Lando Norris, driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, during the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
A request for comment from PK Press Club Digital on Formula 1 was not immediately returned.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday he was confident F1 would make the best decision.
“I know that [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] will do what’s good for all of us and for the sport,” Hamilton said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. “That’s the great thing about having a great leader like him.”
