Formula 1 Braces for 22-Race Calendar as Middle East Conflict Threatens Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix

F1 likely to move to a 22-race calendar as the Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix face cancellation due to Middle East conflict and safety concerns.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 8:29 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNA

Safety Concerns Overpower Commercial Interests

The 2026 Formula 1 world championship faces a significant contraction as the sport’s leadership grapples with the fallout of the widening Middle East conflict. Multiple senior sources confirmed on Friday that the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah are unlikely to proceed as scheduled in mid-April. With Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain’s capital, Manama, recently targeted by missile and drone strikes, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem have signaled that personnel safety will take precedence over the original 24-race schedule.

Logistical Barriers to Replacement Venues

While European circuits such as Imola, Portimao, and Istanbul Park have been floated as potential alternatives, F1 insiders dismiss these as logistically unfeasible at such short notice. Shifting the entire "F1 circus"—including thousands of staff and tons of freight—requires months of lead time for security, marshaling, and ticket sales. Furthermore, F1 is reportedly keen to protect its mandatory August break rather than squeezing in replacement rounds that would overstretch team personnel during the European summer.

The Climate and Calendar Conundrum

Rescheduling the Gulf races for later in the year presents a major climatic hurdle. Temperatures in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain dangerously high for outdoor sporting events throughout the summer and early autumn. Additionally, the existing calendar is already densely packed, leaving no obvious gaps for the postponed rounds. History suggests a total cancellation is more likely; when the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was scrapped due to civil unrest, it was never rescheduled despite initial efforts to find a late-season slot.