Formula 1 is preparing for the possibility of a race-free April as uncertainty surrounds the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, with the championship unlikely to seek last-minute replacements should the events be cancelled.
The two races – scheduled for Sakhir and Jeddah next month – are under review following the escalating conflict in the Middle East after air strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM) are monitoring the situation closely but have yet to make a final determination.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stressed that any decision will prioritize “safety and wellbeing,” signaling that sporting or commercial considerations will be secondary if regional instability persists.
Tight Timeline for a Decision
While an immediate cancellation has not been issued, logistical realities mean the sport cannot delay its decision indefinitely. Freight and equipment must be dispatched to Bahrain shortly after the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 if the events are to proceed as planned.
That timeline effectively gives F1 around two weeks to determine whether the races will go ahead.
Unlike some earlier disruptions to the calendar, postponement is not a viable option. The 2026 schedule is already packed, leaving no realistic room later in the year to move either event.
As a result, the choice facing F1 is binary: run the races as scheduled or remove them entirely from the calendar.
Replacement Races Unlikely
Behind the scenes, F1 has explored contingency plans in case both Middle Eastern rounds are dropped. Losing the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian events would create a six-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
Potential stand-ins – including races at Imola or Portimão, or even a second consecutive event in Japan – have reportedly been discussed informally. However, momentum behind such alternatives appears limited.
One of the major concerns is the impact on team personnel. A proposal for a second Japanese race faded largely because mechanics would already have been traveling continuously since the Australian season opener.
Financial considerations also play a role. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula 1 rapidly assembled replacement races to maintain television commitments.
But with 22 rounds already scheduled this season, the championship has already met its contractual thresholds. Organizing additional races would likely bring modest hosting fees and little financial upside.
Teams willing to absorb impact
From the teams’ perspective, losing two races would reduce their share of the championship’s commercial revenue pool. However, paddock sentiment suggests the financial hit would be manageable.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown indicated that the priority lies elsewhere.
“It all kind of depends: do the races get replaced, do they get delayed, and the economics around that,” Brown said, quoted by The Race.
“But I think, given what's going on, we're not bothered if it does have a little bit of a financial impact.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is expected to discuss the matter with team principals during a scheduled meeting in Australia on Saturday.
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FIA: ‘Safety and wellbeing’ will guide decisions on Middle East racesFor now, the sport is waiting to see whether tensions ease quickly enough to allow the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds to proceed safely.
If not, Formula 1 may face an unusual stretch in which engines fall silent for an entire month—an April without racing on the world championship calendar.
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