Formula One and its governing body, the FIA, announced Sunday that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to safety concerns related to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The two races were scheduled for April 12 in Bahrain and April 19 in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. The announcement was made early Sunday morning in Shanghai ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” Formula One said in a statement. “While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.”
The decision comes after escalating tensions in the region following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, and Iran’s subsequent response that has affected parts of the Middle East.
Formula One president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said the decision was difficult but necessary.
“While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” Domenicali said. “I want to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body prioritized the safety of everyone involved in the championship.
“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first,” Ben Sulayem said. “After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.”
Neither Formula One nor the FIA used the terms “cancel” or “postpone,” leaving open the possibility that the races could be rescheduled later in the season. However, the championship calendar is already packed, and there are no obvious open dates available for replacement events.
Calling off the two races will create a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. If the races are not rescheduled, the season would be reduced to 22 races, the shortest schedule since 2023.
The cancellations also affect the support series scheduled to run alongside Formula One, including Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy, which will also not hold their rounds during those race weekends.
Promoters of both races said they supported the decision.
Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, chief executive of the Bahrain International Circuit, said the venue understood the reasoning behind the move.
“We fully support the decision by Formula 1, and we are grateful to them and to the FIA for their support and enduring partnership,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming fans from all around the world back to Bahrain when Formula 1 returns.”
HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, also backed the decision.
“Fans across the Kingdom were once again looking forward to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah this April, but we understand the considerations behind this decision and remain in close partnership with Formula 1,” he said.
The series had to make a decision weeks in advance because Formula One typically transports equipment and staff to race venues well before race weekend. Ongoing travel disruptions affecting major airports in the region also complicated logistics.
Some drivers also addressed the situation. Kimi Antonelli, who qualified on pole for the Chinese Grand Prix, said safety should remain the priority.
“My thoughts are with the ones that are suffering from this situation,” Antonelli said. “Safety has to come first, and I’m sure Formula 1 and the FIA will do the right thing.”
Teams indicated they would follow the guidance of the sport’s leadership. Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley said teams trusted the governing bodies to make the correct call.
“I think we follow the guidance of the FIA and Formula 1, as we always do,” Wheatley said. “Nobody’s going to compromise on anything that would put teams into an uncomfortable situation.”
The Bahrain circuit had already hosted preseason testing earlier this year before the latest escalation in the region. A planned wet-weather tire test there was also canceled shortly after the attacks began.
The most recent Formula One race cancellation occurred in 2023 when the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was called off due to deadly flooding in northern Italy. In 2022, the championship canceled the Russian Grand Prix contract after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Despite the disruption to the calendar, Formula One leaders emphasized that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain important parts of the championship.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season,” Ben Sulayem said. “I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.”
