F1 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix may not be replaced if cancelled due to Middle East conflict
Formula 1 may not replace the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix if they are cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The races in Bahrain on April 10-12 and Saudi Arabia on April 17-19 are in serious doubt as both countries are among the Gulf states to have been struck by Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli air strikes amid the escalating conflict in the region this month.
Sky Sports News understands a decision on whether to cancel the two races will be made by March 20 at the latest and, should they not take place, the rounds would not be replaced.
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.
It means the F1 calendar would drop from 24 rounds to 22, leaving a five-week gap in the calendar between the third round of the season in Japan on March 27-29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3.
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“First of all, our approach first of all is safety for all of the relevant stakeholders, people and the promoter itself,” F1 president Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports F1.
“We don’t want to do any statement today because things are evolving and we still have time to make the right decision. This decision will be taken together.
“So far, we want to keep quiet and calm and make sure we have the right time to make the right decision – as we did in the past.”
Formula 1 2026 Calendar
Australia
March 6-8
Hungary
July 24-26
China
March 13-15*
Netherlands
August 21-23*
Japan
March 27-29
Italy
September 4-6
Bahrain
April 10-12
Madrid
September 11-13
Saudi Arabia
April 17-19
Azerbaijan
September 24-26
Miami
May 1-3*
Singapore
October 9-11*
Canada
May 22-24*
USA
October 23-25
Monaco
June 5-7
Mexico
Oct 30-Nov 1
Barcelona
June 12-14
Brazil
November 6-8
Austria
June 26-28
Las Vegas
November 19-21
Great Britain
July 3-5*
Qatar
November 27-29
Belgium
July 17-19
Abu Dhabi
December 4-6
*denotes Sprint weekend
Team bosses to discuss Middle East conflict
Domenicali will meet with F1’s team bosses on Saturday in Melbourne to discuss a range of topics, including the likelihood of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races being cancelled.
“It’s the first get-together of all the teams. There’s been very little communication about it yet because of the effort that it took just to get here to Australia,” said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown.
“Obviously, the sport, ourselves, the fans, the partners, our race team, all that will be of the utmost importance from a safety point of view. We’ll just have to see how things play out and we’ll make the right decision for the health of everybody involved in the sport.”
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Highlights from Friday’s practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff added: “First of all, Formula 1 in a way becomes the second priority. It’s such an important topic in the region that it’s even quite difficult, I guess, to talk to the local leaders and say: ‘What about the Grand Prix?’.
“I think this is up to Stefano as a promoter and the FIA to manage that situation while respecting the current challenges that they have. My hunch is I would very much hope we race. Is it realistic that we race there at the moment?
“I’m not quite sure. But again, I leave it to Stefano to manage that situation. I hope generally it gets better there so we are able to come back as soon as possible.”
Domenicali: Not been an easy week
This weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix has largely got under way unaffected by the Middle East conflict but there have been logistical challenges since several personnel were originally due to fly from Europe to Australia via the Gulf region.
Pirelli cancelled a tyre test in Bahrain last weekend which was set to involve McLaren and Mercedes, while curfew restrictions to stop teams working overnight have been scrapped in Melbourne as teams have been troubled by getting personnel and freight to Australia.
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Domenicali said: “It has not been an easy week. When we saw the things happening, of course, we had people in Dubai and Bahrain for a Pirelli test which we had to cancel. We had people in Doha.
“We had a lot of flights booked through the Middle East, so it has been a very intense couple of days to reschedule everything with the help of the governments.
“We had a special programme to take all of the people in this region out, which was a challenge, therefore to be here is a great success.
“People sometimes believe it’s just 30 or 40 people in a team. We have 3000 people who have to move around the world. It’s a big beast.”
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Sky Sports F1’s Australian GP schedule
Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Sprint*
1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30am)*
3.05am: F2 Sprint*
4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
7am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
9.45pm: F3 Feature Race*
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As Formula 1 enters a new era, Tate McRae’s GRAMMY-nominated Just Keep Watching will become the new title track for Sky Sports’ F1 coverage this season and beyond
Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Feature Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted’s Notebook*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
