Formula 1 has cancelled the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to security concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), said the decision was taken after “careful evaluations” concluded it was not safe to hold either race while the conflict continues. The Bahrain race at Sakhir had been scheduled for April 10–12, while the Saudi Arabian event in Jeddah was due to take place a week later. In a statement released ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, the FIA confirmed that the races will not be rescheduled or replaced on the 2026 calendar. “As always, the FIA will place the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The cancellations mean the Formula 1 season will now feature 22 races instead of 24. It also creates a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix at the end of March and the Miami Grand Prix in early May. Formula 1 explored possible replacement venues, including Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Italy’s Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, and Turkey’s Istanbul Park. However, organisers concluded that staging a race at short notice would be difficult because of logistics, ticket sales, and the impact on already stretched personnel. The cancellations are expected to cost the sport more than £100 million, as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay among the highest hosting fees on the Formula 1 calendar. Those fees are typically shared between the teams and the sport’s commercial rights holder, Formula One Group. While the financial impact is significant, officials said safety concerns made the decision unavoidable. The gap in the schedule will now give teams additional time to analyse the opening races of the season and continue development under the sport’s new engine regulations.