Formula 1 could announce very soon the cancellation of two major races on the 2026 calendar due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
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The geopolitical situation in the Persian Gulf region is starting to have direct consequences on international motorsport. According to several consistent reports, Formula 1 is expected to formalize the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend.
These two rounds were initially scheduled for April 12 and 19 in the 2026 F1 calendar. However, the current military escalation notably involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and the resulting instability in several neighboring countries, makes the organization of these events extremely uncertain.
In this context, the safety of teams, drivers, and staff becomes the top priority for organizers and sporting authorities.
WEC forced to modify its own calendar
Even before the expected confirmation from Formula 1, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has already announced significant changes to its 2026 calendar.
The season-opening race, the Qatar 1812 km, was initially scheduled to be held at the end of the month at the Lusail International Circuit. Given the current situation, organizers have however decided to postpone the event to a much later date in the year.
In an official statement, the championship explains the decision made by the various parties involved: “The current geopolitical instability in the Middle East has forced the postponement of the Qatari event, which was originally scheduled to launch the 14th season of the FIA WEC championship later this month.”
The new date chosen for the race is now set for October 22 to 24, 2026. It will thus become the penultimate round of the season.
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Absolute priority given to safety
Championship officials insisted that safety remained the determining factor in decision-making. In the same statement, they recall the position of the various institutions involved.
“The safety of competitors, staff, and fans remains a top priority for the QMMF, the Lusail circuit, the FIA, and the FIA WEC organization. All parties will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the situation in the region.”
While waiting for the season to resume, a collective test – called the prologue – will be organized at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola on April 14, before the first race of the year is held on this same circuit a few days later.
A gaping hole in the F1 calendar ?
If the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races is confirmed, Formula 1 could find itself with a significant gap in its calendar in April.
Unlike the WEC, it seems however that the premier discipline does not plan to immediately replace these two events. Several circuits have been mentioned internally as potential solutions, including Imola, but logistical and financial constraints complicate the organization of a replacement race on such short notice.
According to some reports, Saudi authorities have attempted in recent days to convince F1 leaders to maintain the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, held on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. However, the persistent instability in the region would make this option difficult to consider.
The final decision is expected to be formalized very soon by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula 1 management. A highly anticipated announcement for the teams, who must adapt their logistics and preparation to a particularly uncertain international situation.
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