The FIA has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GP races as it has deemed the region not safe enough for F1 and its support series to travel to as a war is currently taking place. The governing body has confirmed that there will not be any replacements as there was not enough time to bring them in. 2026 will see 22 races run.
Not the first time Bahrain has been cancelled
The cancellation of the Bahrain GP is not a first. During the Arab Spring of 2011, civil unrest in the country forced the organisers to postpone the race until later in the year. Eventually the race was cancelled entirely after protests by human rights activists and the teams, albeit for logistical reasons with the latter.
No safety assurances in Saudi Arabia this time and joins Bahrain in missing out on the 2026 F1 season
As has been the case with Bahrain, the F1 Saudi Arabia GP also has a history of dealing with unrest. On Friday at the 2022 race, a missile struck a nearby Aramco plant. With the billowing smoke clearly visible during FP1, the GDPA talked for 4.5 hours in the evening to discuss whether to continue. After some safety reassurances and additional political pressure, the drivers agreed to race in the Saudi Arabian GP.
Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy schedules also affected
There is also a significant headache for F2 and F3 CEO Bruno Michel. The same applies to Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy.
Formula 2 was due to race at both rounds, meaning the next race will take place at Monaco as things stand. If that did occur, it would leave a full three months of no racing in the primary category on the ‘Road to F1’.
As for Formula 3, the category two steps below Formula 1 was meant to be racing in Bahrain. That will leave the same gap between rounds and 1 and 2 like Formula 2 as things stand.
Finally, F1 Academy was supposed to be on the schedule in Saudi Arabia alongside F2 and F1. Montreal will be their next round if nothing is added following the opening event in China this weekend.
