The FIA, the sport's governing body, and Formula One Management (FOM) have officially declared that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not be held this April, causing a major disruption to the 2026 Formula 1 schedule. 

The decision was made in response to growing geopolitical tensions and safety concerns in the Middle East, and it was made public before the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The events, which were originally planned as a doubleheader on April 12 (Sakhir) and April 19 (Jeddah), have been postponed from their original dates in order to put team, staff, and fan safety first.

This marks a rare moment of calendar contraction for the sport, which had planned a record-breaking 24-race season. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in an official statement that although the choice was challenging, considering the "ongoing situation" in the area, it was the only acceptable course of action. 

Local promoters in Manama and Jeddah backed the decision, acknowledging that the current situation rendered it impractical to hold an event of the logistical magnitude of Formula One. The support categories are also affected by the suspension; Formula 2, Formula 3, and the F1 Academy events that were originally scheduled for these weekends have all been cancelled.

Logistical Challenges Prevent Replacements for 2026 Schedule

F1 has announced that no replacement races would be added for the month of April, despite internal conversations about possible "fly-away" substitutes or European alternatives like Imola or Portimão. A "plug-and-play" option was not feasible due to the tight timetable for 2026 and the enormous commercial expenditures of planning a Grand Prix at such short notice.

Therefore, fans will face a rare five-week gap in the championship, spanning from the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 to the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
This unplanned break offers the teams a special strategic advantage. Engineers at factories in Brackley, Milton Keynes and Maranello will probably utilise this month to expedite upgrade packages for the North American and European swings, even though the loss of two lucrative races affects the sport's economic line.
 
As the F1 community closely monitors regional stability for a possible return to the Gulf later in the year, the 2026 season is currently scheduled to go as a 22-race campaign, the shortest since 2023.