F1’s Middle East pause

Formula 1’s 2026 season has gone dark for April after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were scrubbed from the calendar, leaving Miami as the next race on May 3. (formula1.com) (espn.com) Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile said on March 14 that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix would not take place in April because of the situation in the Middle East. The sport also said no substitute races would be added during the month. (formula1.com) The cancelled races had been scheduled for April 12 in Sakhir and April 19 in Jeddah. ESPN reported that the gap from the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 to Miami on May 3 is 35 days, or five weeks. (espn.com) (the-independent.com) That pause lands three races into a season built around new 2026 car and engine rules, with teams now losing two early data points on hot-weather tracks. Formula 1’s support series, including Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy, also lost their scheduled Bahrain and Saudi rounds. (espn.com) (formula1.com) The money at stake is unusually large because Gulf races pay some of Formula 1’s biggest hosting fees. The Independent reported estimates of roughly £55 million from Saudi Arabia and £45 million from Bahrain, putting the combined hit near £100 million, or about €117 million at current exchange rates. (the-independent.com) Formula 1 has said it wants to return to both venues “as soon as the circumstances allow,” and Saudi officials said they remain in close partnership with the series. Other reports say the paddock is exploring whether one or both races could be moved to later in 2026, though ESPN said the existing calendar leaves little room without reshuffling other events. (formula1.com) (gpfans.com) (espn.com) That leaves Formula 1 with a 22-race schedule for now instead of the planned 24. Until Miami starts on May 1 and races on May 3, the sport’s biggest story is the empty space where its spring Gulf swing used to be. (motorsport.com) (espn.com)