The 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled due to severe safety concerns stemming from the breakout of the 2026 Iran war. As the war has dragged on, two further races from the F1 2026 calendar are under threat, including the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The races, which were originally scheduled to be the fourth and fifth rounds of the season in mid-April, became untenable following an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. After the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks that struck several Gulf states, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Security Threat Triggers Early Cancellations
F1 and the FIA officially announced the cancellations on March 14, 2026, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, prioritising the safety of the teams, staff, and spectators. The Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir sits just about 20 miles away from a US military base that had already been targeted by Iranian attacks.
F1 had to make an early call after the conflict began on February 28th because the sport flies out massive amounts of cargo, freight, and personnel weeks in advance. Letting the equipment head into a hot zone was a risk the teams and governing bodies were completely unwilling to take.
Because the decision was made so close to the event dates, setting up replacement venues on such short notice proved logistically impossible. As a result, no substitute races were added, dropping the 2026 calendar from 24 down to 22 races and creating a massive five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix in late March and the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
The Pre-Season Scramble in Bahrain
The sudden escalation of military conflict in the Middle East—marked by strikes involving Iran and US installations—abruptly halted the Formula 1 wet tyre test scheduled for February 28 to March 1, 2026, at the Bahrain International Circuit.
As the war broke out, a Pirelli test was imminent in Bahrain, which meant some 50 personnel each from Mercedes and McLaren, alongside more than 20 engineers and staff from Pirelli, were stuck in their hotels in Manama while teams worked on an emergency exit strategy.
The test, which was supposed to use track sprinklers to evaluate Pirelli’s new 2026 wet-weather compounds, was entirely called off for safety reasons. The logistical scramble required hundreds of F1 personnel to rapidly re-route their flights away from Gulf hubs like Dubai and Doha to ensure they could make it to the season opener in Melbourne.
Rumours of an Autumn Reschedule Face Weather Hurdles
There have been a number of rumours that at least one of the races may be rescheduled this year, with a potential vacancy on October 4th between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix being eyed.
Yet, as TJ13 commentators have observed, the heat in the Middle East at this time is excessive, as evidenced by the running of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix at a similar point in the year. With cockpit temperatures soaring towards 60 degrees Celsius, Esteban Ocon (Alpine) revealed over the radio that he began throwing up inside his helmet as early as laps 15 and 16. Remarkably, he kept driving and finished P7.
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) confessed that he was “fading in and out of consciousness” and repeatedly blurring out while driving down the straights at 200 mph. Footage captured him stumbling straight toward an ambulance immediately after climbing out of his car.
Domenicali Confirms Summer Deadline for Final Races
Now F1’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, has confirmed that both a replacement date for one of the lost races this season, together with contingency plans to replace the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are underway and that a decision will be made during F1’s summer break in August.
“As with Covid, we have to try to be as pragmatic as possible,” said Domenicali, as reported by French publication L’Equipe. “The fact that we’ve withdrawn the Bahrain and Jeddah races so far stems from the fact that we knew it wasn’t possible to go there at the time. Especially since we’re entertainment, a sport that brings joy and pleasure.
“You have to go to a place where that’s truly the atmosphere. We hope, for Formula 1 but especially for the world, that the situation improves as quickly as possible. Promoters in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are already selling tickets, and sales are going very, very well. But there will come a time when we have to make decisions, because it’s not like a football match where there are only two teams, 22 players, and where substitutions are easy. For us, there’s the logistical complexity, the costs.”
Looking Beyond Las Vegas for the Season Finale
The F1 supremo declared that rescheduling both Bahrain and Saudi “is impossible,” acknowledging even one will be extremely difficult. There has been the suggestion that the Saudi Grand Prix could follow the season finale in Abu Dhabi, but now even that weekend is under threat.
“I can confirm that we have a contingency plan. And if the two end-of-year races cannot take place because the war is not over, we will have other alternatives,” said Domenicali, meaning the Las Vegas race in November will not be the last of the season.
The Logistical Dilemma of Finding Alternative Venues
Silverstone has offered to host an extra event as it did during Covid, but with the temperatures in Northern Europe—where snow is possible at that time of year—it is unlikely we will see any similar venues as a possibility. The existing calendar is unlikely to be reshuffled, with tickets having been sold and fans having made travel arrangements already.
In reality, there are few alternative venues which could host an F1 weekend at that time of year, although a return to India could be on the cards given recent statements from the government there about wanting a race in 2027.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
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With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
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