F1 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Shown as ‘Called Off’ on Official Calendar

The official, fan-synced Formula 1 calendar for the 2026 season is already displaying the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix as ‘called off’, despite no formal cancellation having yet been announced by Formula 1 or the FIA.

While confirmation is still pending, an official statement is widely expected before the end of the current race weekend in Shanghai.

Escalating Conflict Casts Shadow Over April Rounds

The uncertainty surrounding rounds four and five of the 2026 championship follows escalating conflict in the Middle East. Recent weeks have seen intensified hostilities after a bombing campaign in Iran was launched by the United States and Israel, with Iran retaliating through strikes targeting US bases in nearby countries.

One of those countries was Bahrain, home to the Sakhir circuit, which hosted two weeks of F1 pre-season testing just last month. As tensions increased, questions quickly emerged over whether the April events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could proceed as planned.

In a statement provided to GPFans by an FIA spokesperson, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressed the situation:

“As President of the FIA, my thoughts are with all those affected by the recent events in the Middle East. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand with the families and communities impacted.

"At this moment of uncertainty, we hope for calm, safety, and a swift return to stability. Dialogue and the protection of civilians must remain priorities.

"We are in close contact with our Member Clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly.

"Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there. Our organisation is built on unity and shared purpose. That unity matters now more than ever.”

Official Confirmation Expected in Shanghai

During coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Sky Sports reported that Formula 1 is set to confirm the double cancellation, with an announcement anticipated before the conclusion of the Shanghai sprint weekend.

If confirmed, the 2026 season will be reduced to a 22-race calendar. It had already been reported that, should the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds be cancelled, no replacement events would be added to the schedule.

For many fans, however, the news may not come as a surprise. In the early hours of Saturday, March 14, those who had synced the official F1 calendar to their personal devices noticed that both April race weekends had been edited to read: ‘CALLED OFF’. The update effectively signalled a reduced calendar before any formal public confirmation from the sport’s governing bodies.

Impact on F2 and F3

While Formula 1 appears set to forgo replacement venues, its support categories are understood to be exploring alternatives.

F3 Calendar Adjustment

Formula 3 was not scheduled to race in Saudi Arabia and would therefore only need to secure a single replacement event. Its April 10–12 weekend, currently allocated to Bahrain, is the only affected round.

F2 Facing a Double Gap

Formula 2, by contrast, had been due to follow F1 to both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As a result, the series would need to identify two alternative venues across the April 10–12 and April 17–19 weekends.

With the official fan calendar already updated and expectations building in Shanghai, formal confirmation now appears to be a matter of timing rather than uncertainty.