Formula 1 has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April, citing security concerns amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision, taken in consultation with the Formula One Group, local promoters and regional member clubs, also applies to the support series including Formula 2, Formula 3 and the F1 Academy.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.#FIA #F1 pic.twitter.com/gwHHDHkOdy
— FIA (@fia) March 14, 2026
The cancellations come against the backdrop of intensifying hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran as reports in the Wall Street Journal and other US media have confirmed that American fuel tankers were destroyed in drone attacks at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, with several personnel injured. These incidents underscored the risks of staging international events in the Gulf, where military installations and civilian infrastructure have increasingly come under fire.
For Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the loss of their flagship races appears to represent a significant economic setback as both countries had invested heavily in positioning themselves as hubs for global sport and tourism, with the Grands Prix expected to generate hundreds of millions in revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, hospitality and tourism. Hotels, airlines and local businesses that rely on the influx of visitors during race week are now bracing for sharp declines in demand.
The absence of two of Formula 1’s most lucrative races leaves a rare five-week gap in the calendar, reducing the season to 22 rounds. For the Gulf states, however, the impact is more profound, undermining efforts to project stability and attract international investment through high-profile events. The cancellations highlight how the prolonging of the US-Israel–Iran conflict is reshaping not only the political landscape but also the economic ambitions of the Middle East.
