Title: F1 Drops Two Gulf Races From 2026 Calendar as Iran Conflict Engulfs the Region
Formula 1 has officially cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, reducing the 2026 season to 22 races as the conflict between the US-Israel coalition and Iran continues to spread across the Persian Gulf region. The decision removes two of the sport's most lucrative events from the calendar, with combined hosting fees estimated at $118 million.
The races had been scheduled as the fourth and fifth rounds of the championship, with Bahrain set for April 10-12 and Jeddah for April 17-19. Both countries have been struck by Iranian retaliatory attacks since the US killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, making the events untenable from a safety perspective.
Bahrain has become one of Iran's most heavily targeted Gulf states due to its role as host to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Iranian missile and drone strikes have hit or threatened military installations, energy facilities, and civilian areas around the capital, Manama. Saudi Arabia's western port city of Jeddah, while farther from the direct conflict zone, faces similar security concerns.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described the decision as "difficult but necessary," adding that safety of drivers, teams, and fans must remain the priority. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed the sentiment, stating that the organization "will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community first."
While alternative venues including Imola and Portimao were explored for April, logistical and commercial challenges proved insurmountable. The result is a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3. The planned F2, F3, and F1 Academy support rounds have also been cancelled.
Key Takeaways:
– F1 cancels Bahrain (April 10-12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17-19) races due to Iran conflict.
– The 2026 calendar drops to 22 races with no replacement events in April.
– Combined hosting fees for both events estimated at $118 million.
– Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states made the events impossible to hold safely.
– A five-week gap will separate the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix.
Original source: Sky Sports
How this was produced: AI-assisted synthesis from cited source, filtered for duplication and low-value rewrites by TxtFeed quality rules.
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