Chalien Dantes/Contributor

The Formula One races planned for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month are expected to be cancelled as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

While an official announcement has not yet been made, a final decision is likely before the weekend ends. With freight shipments to the region needing to begin soon, organisers say the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran makes it too risky for teams and staff to travel.

The Bahrain Grand Prix had been scheduled for April 12, with the Saudi Arabian race in Jeddah set for the following weekend. If both events are called off, the 2026 Formula One season will drop to 22 races, and the sport could lose more than £100 million, as both countries pay some of the highest hosting fees on the calendar.

Officials briefly explored moving the races to other tracks such as Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy, or Istanbul Park in Turkey. However, the short timeframe made it nearly impossible to organise replacement events or secure hosting agreements.

If the cancellations go ahead, there will be a five-week gap in the schedule between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, as organisers race against tight logistical deadlines with the conflict still far from over.