From the outset of the US-Israeli war with Iran a fortnight ago, the by-comparison trivial ramifications for the start of the 2026 Formula One season have long felt inevitable. That very weekend, the sport’s tyre supplier Pirelli cancelled a scheduled test in Bahrain, with McLaren and Mercedes personnel left stranded after the sudden closure of air travel in the region. It served as an appropriate case study, and now, with no end to the war in sight, the appropriate decision has been made.
Confirmation came late on Saturday night – just as teams awoke in Shanghai ahead of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix – that both the Bahrain GP and Saudi Arabian GP, scheduled for 12 April and 19 April respectively, have been cancelled. Neither race will be replaced, shortening the season to 22 races. It will cost F1 in the region of £100m in hosting fees.
