F1 calendar shock

Formula 1 has canceled its April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, leaving the 2026 season dark until the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3. (formula1.com) The sport announced the decision on March 14 after what it called “careful evaluations” of the situation in the Middle East, and it said no replacement events would be added to the April schedule. Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy also lost their planned Bahrain and Saudi rounds. (formula1.com) That creates a gap from the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29 to Miami on May 1-3, nearly five weeks with no Formula 1 race after only three rounds in Australia, China and Japan. F1’s original 2026 calendar had Bahrain on April 10-12 and Saudi Arabia on April 17-19. (formula1.com) (fia.com) The break is not a formal shutdown. F1 said teams can keep wind tunnels running, use simulators and continue design and manufacturing work through April, unlike the FIA-mandated summer and winter closures. (formula1.com) That matters because 2026 is already a reset year for the sport. The new rules brought a new generation of cars and power units, and the first three races triggered complaints from drivers about energy management, braking behavior and racing quality. (fia.com) (espn.com) After a month of talks between drivers, team principals, technical leaders, Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the series approved a package of rule tweaks that ESPN reported is due to take effect at Miami, pending final signoff by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The stated targets were qualifying, accident risk from closing speeds, start-line incidents and wet-weather running. (espn.com) One confirmed change is a cut in maximum permitted recharge in qualifying from 8 megajoules to 7 megajoules, aimed at reducing the heavy energy harvesting that had forced drivers into more lift-and-coast driving. ESPN reported the broader goal is to make laps look and feel more consistently flat-out. (espn.com) Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain “incredibly important” to the championship, while FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body would place “safety and wellbeing” first. For now, the season resumes in Miami with teams arriving after an unscheduled month to rethink cars that were only introduced in March. (formula1.com)