The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix have been officially cancelled — with Formula 1 confirming there will be no replacement events in April. The 2026 season now stands at 22 races, and the ripple effects are being felt across the entire paddock.
As FIA media-accredited journalists scheduled to cover both events, The Motion Report can confirm the scale of disruption this decision has caused — for teams, for fans, and for Formula 1 as a business.
What Happened — The Official Decision
The announcement was made early on Sunday morning local time in Shanghai, timed deliberately to avoid overshadowing the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described it as a difficult but necessary decision, while FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasised that the safety and wellbeing of all involved must always come first. Both circuit chiefs from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia responded graciously, confirming their desire to welcome Formula 1 back as soon as circumstances allow.
The cancellations extend beyond Formula 1 itself. The Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds scheduled for both weekends have also been removed from the calendar entirely.
The Impact on Teams — Equipment Stranded and Millions at Stake
Behind the scenes, the situation created an immediate operational crisis for every team on the grid. Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu was among the most direct voices in Shanghai, stating that teams needed a decision the previous week. The reason is significant: every team had equipment already set up inside the Bahrain International Circuit from pre-season testing — equipment that cannot be retrieved without physically sending staff into the facility. A second full set of kit was also sitting in Jeddah, ready for deployment.
Teams were simultaneously continuing to manufacture components back at their factories destined for Bahrain — committing engineering hours and budget to a race that no longer exists. The financial impact of losing two of the most lucrative races on the calendar runs into many tens of millions of dollars across the sport.
The question of whether Baku, Qatar and Abu Dhabi later in the season face similar risks remains open. Formula 1 has made no decision on those events, but paddock sources confirm they are being monitored closely.
What F1 Fans Need to Do Right Now
If you had travel plans for Bahrain or Jeddah in April, act immediately on three fronts.
For flights, contact your airline directly. Airlines suspending routes to Bahrain have effectively voided their obligation to carry you — giving strong grounds for a full refund even on non-refundable tickets. Do not wait.
For hotels, contact the property or your booking platform — Booking.com and Expedia both have customer service teams handling cancellation requests related to this situation. Make your case in writing and keep records of all communication.
For tickets, both circuits are processing refunds. Find the official refund process directly from the Bahrain International Circuit and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit websites and submit your request as quickly as possible.
What Comes Next for the 2026 Season
The revised 2026 Formula 1 calendar now moves from the Chinese Grand Prix directly to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on March 27, before resuming in Miami on May 3 and then Canada. The unexpected break gives teams — particularly Aston Martin, still battling power unit reliability issues — a full uninterrupted month to address technical problems ahead of the return to racing.
Formula 1 has navigated geopolitical disruption before. The sport adapted after Russia and Ukraine. It survived COVID. The Middle East partnerships — built over years and backed by significant long-term investment — are expected to resume when circumstances allow. The question is not whether Formula 1 returns to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is when.
The Motion Report will continue to cover this story as it develops. Subscribe to the channel for updates directly from the Formula 1 paddock throughout the 2026 season.
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