The FIA has released its official decision to cancel the upcoming Formula 1 Grand Prix races scheduled for April 2026. The decision has been made due to the growing hostile environment in the middle east surrounding the areas in which the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were set to take place. To prioritize the safety of drivers and fans alike, the decision to cancel the regional races has been solidified as of March 13, 2026.
Here’s what to know about the cancellation of these two prominent Grand Prix racing events on the 2026 FIA F1 World Championship calendar.
Logistics Forced The Cancellation To Be Called Now
GettyDrivers take the start during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on March 16, 2025.
Due to freight shipping being shut down to the region and a shipping deadline the FIA must follow for all cars and vehicles to be transported by March 20, 2026, the FIA has had to make a decision about the two April 2026 Grand Prix races. The deadline for freight shipping doesn’t align with the Grand Prix schedule which sees the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix taking place on March 29, 2026.
Since it wouldn’t be feasible to ship all freight to the region by March 20 and then to have guarantee of those shipments being returned after the races given the heightened tensions in the region, it was a logistical security call to cancel both of the upcoming April 2026 GPs.
A Gap Of Five Weeks Will Now Loom Over The Schedule
GettyAndrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 leads Esteban Ocon of France driving the (31) Haas F1 VF-26 Ferrari Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 and others as they practice their race start procedures during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 19, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain.
The 2026 Formula 1 schedule will now see a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29, 2026 and the Miami Grand Prix in the United States on May 3, 2026. A gap like this in the active World Championship schedule is unprecedented outside of the summer and winter breaks which are traditionally planned far in advance.
Canceling the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will reduce the 2026 Formula 1 schedule to 22 races total as the two April 2026 races are unlikely to be replaced at this point in time. Though the FIA might look to find alternative GP locations for future calendar years if the growing tensions in the Middle East do not resolve by the 2027 Formula 1 season, it is not expected that any additional Grand Prix nor sprint races will be added to the current season’s calendar. This means that the tight race which has already been witnessed between Ferrari and Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix which served as the 2026 kick off will only become more competitive with fewer races on the calendar to win the 2026 World Championship.
Formula 1 Cancels All Grand Prix Races For Month of April 2026