Formula One bosses are reportedly set to make the extraordinary decision to cancel the upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the conflict in the Middle East. The drastic development comes as another blow to Oscar Piastri‘s F1 championship hopes after his disastrous crash at the season-opening Australian GP last weekend.
The upcoming events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – which were slated for April 12 and 19 respectively – have come under increasing doubt since Israel and the US launched a joint military operation on Iran last month. That sparked retaliatory strikes from the Gulf state, and there have been rocket and drones strikes across the region since, with mounting casualties in an escalating conflict.
Safety concerns in the Middle East are reportedly set to see the F1 GPs in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled, both of which Oscar Piastri won last year. Pic: Getty
It’s sparked serious safety concerns for many in the region, and with thousands of fans set to descend on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month, F1 bosses are reportedly set to take drastic action. Chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA boss Muhammed Ben Sulayem previously said the governing body would be “monitoring the situation.”
But according to reports from British media, including the BBC, the F1 will make a formal decision to scrap the two races over the next 48 hours. With Bahrain and Saudi Arabia caught up in the ongoing conflict, F1 officials have struggled to guarantee the safety of fans, teams and officials heading to the region.
F1 bosses set to cancel two GPs in $195 million move
And with time running out for organisers and teams to prepare, and for critical equipment to be shipped over – including the cars – it’s forcing officials to make a tough call. The cancellations would represent a $195 million blow to the F1 though, with Bahrain paying around $78million, and Saudi Arabia almost $117million to host the Grand Prix events.
Officials have discussed holding races at Portugal’s Portimao and Italy’s Imola circuits to replace the two GPs in the Middle East. But the time it would take to organise a race at either venue, as well as securing hosting fees at such short notice, means there is little chance of that happening and the season will be reduced to 22 races.
Scrapping of F1 races another blow for Oscar Piastri
It means there’s set to be a five-week break between the upcoming Japanese GP on March 29 and the event in Miami on May 3 that was set to follow the Saudi Arabian GP. And it leaves Piastri with an even bigger mountain to climb in his quest for a maiden F1 championship after the Aussie crashed out during before the formation lap at the Australian GP.
Oscar Piastri’s 2026 season got off to a horror start after the McLaren ace crashed before the formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix. Image: Fox Sports/Getty
Piastri won both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs last year to rocket to the top of the F1 driver standings, where he spent the majority of the season. The Aussie star was eventually beaten to the title by McLaren teammate Lando Norris after struggling to maintain his impressive form in the second half of the season.
But Piastri clearly enjoys racing in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and will be disappointed to see them scrapped from this year’s schedule. The McLaren ace will be hoping to get his new campaign off and running at this weekend’s Chinese GP, which he won last year. Piastri qualified fifth for Saturday’s sprint race in Shanghai, with Mercedes championship leader George Russell taking pole. The main race gets underway on Sunday.