Formula 1 is likely to officially cancel the Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with an announcement expected as early as today. The news appears to have leaked through the official F1 calendar itself.
Fans eager to stay up-to-date with the racing season can import the Formula 1 calendar to their devices for a comprehensive overview of all scheduled Grands Prix. A recent anomaly within the calendar sparked the initial reports.
The Bahrain Grand Prix, slated for April 12th, was briefly marked as “Called Off” – meaning cancelled – within the calendar. While the race hasn’t been officially removed from the schedule, the indication points to an impending announcement.
Commentator Olav Mol noticed the change and shared a screenshot on X, noting the update to his calendar:
Haha Jon Noble gave the tip: nothing official yet from FIA and FOM but the off calendar has already implemented the changes: Called OFF. pic.twitter.com/WVBRvrpx4a
— Olav Mol®️ (@Olav_Mol) March 14, 2026
The ongoing conflict in Iran, which began on February 28th, is the primary driver behind the decision. Formula 1 officials have determined that We see too dangerous to send the F1 caravan to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, meaning there will be no racing in the Middle East in April. The Grand Prix of Japan will now be the last race before the series resumes in Miami on May 3rd.
There are currently no plans to replace the cancelled races. Imola and Portimão had expressed interest in filling the slots, but the timeframe is too short to accommodate such a significant change to the schedule. The upcoming season will feature 22 races instead of the originally planned 24.
Saudi Arabia reportedly made efforts to ensure the race could proceed, but Formula 1 ultimately deemed the continued threat level unacceptable.
