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Rounds four and five of the 2026 season, in Bahrain on 12 April and Saudi on 19 April, will now not take place
Formula 1 is set to cancel races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month, The Independent understands, amid tension and conflict in the Middle East region. Rounds four and five of the 2026 season, scheduled for 12 April (Sakhir) and 19 April ( Jeddah ), will no longer take place, with F1 set to cancel the grand prix events in the next 48 hours, a source has told The Independent . Iranian missiles have attacked locations in the Middle East, including the Bahraini capital of Manama as recently as Monday after a drone attack resulted in 32 injuries.
Locations in Saudi Arabia have also been targeted since the war began two weeks ago. The Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 12 April, has been cancelled (Getty Images) Replacing both F1 events with European circuits was considered , but given the logistical challenges presented with such a last-minute alteration, F1 has decided to simply wipe the events from this year’s calendar, which is now set to be 22 races long. It is highly unlikely they will be rescheduled for later in the year.
With no race in April, it means there will now be a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix (29 March) and the Miami Grand Prix (3 May). A double cancellation has looked inevitable since the US-Iran war broke out on 28 February, with retaliatory Iranian airstrikes hitting major hotels in Manama, which often house F1 personnel. Major international travel hubs in the region, such as Doha and Dubai, also remain impacted – though some have at least partially reopened.
F1 has already overcome obstacles presented by airport closures in the Middle East in the transfer of personnel to the season-opener in Melbourne, using chartered planes via Singapore and Tanzania. However, with freight due to be moved to the Middle East after this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, a decision will be confirmed in the coming days that the sport will not race in Bahrain and Saudi next month. It is estimated to cost F1 at least £100m in hosting fees.