The holding of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs in April remains uncertain in the face of the escalating crisis in the Middle East. According to sources from RacingNews365, the organizers of the race in Jeddah are striving to keep the event on the Formula 1 calendar, but the future of the race is closely linked to that of the Bahrain GP.
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The problem worsened after military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, followed by Iranian retaliations. Among the incidents, a missile hit the command center of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, while others were launched against Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, causing significant flight disruptions in the region. Amidst this, a Pirelli tire test in Bahrain, scheduled for February 28 to March 1, had to be canceled.
Formula 1 is closely monitoring developments, but the time for a final decision is short, mainly due to the need to transport equipment to Sakhir in time for the Bahrain GP. If one of the two races is canceled, there is a high possibility that the other will also be suspended, complicating the F1 situation.
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If both GPs are indeed canceled, the 2026 calendar will have 22 rounds, with no replacement events in April. Imola and Portimão had been considered as alternatives, but Imola is not viable due to the opening of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on the day planned to eventually be the Saudi Arabian GP, and organizing two consecutive races at the same circuit would represent a major logistical challenge.
Thus, the 2026 season could once again consist of 22 rounds, for the first time since 2023, provided no further race cancellations occur in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
