Motor racing’s elite Formula 1 (F1) series has cancelled its upcoming races in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict in the region, while motorcycling’s MotoGP has postponed its Qatar Grand Prix.
F1 was due to stage the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April, but the series announced over the weekend that they will not take place “after careful evaluations”.
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The decision was taken in consultation with the FIA governing body and respective promoters. F1 stated that “while several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.”
As a result, the season will be cut to 22 races and see F1 take a commercial hit of more than £100 million ($132.7 million), given Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay two of the highest hosting fees.
The race in Bahrain was scheduled to be on April 12, with Jeddah the following weekend.
The Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled times.
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By GlobalDataThe decision will mean there is a five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami race on May 3.
Despite travel disruptions, F1 was able to stage its season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8 and followed that up with its second race in China yesterday.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion. We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, safety, and a swift return to stability in the region.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.”
Meanwhile, MotoGP has confirmed that the Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to November 8.
Like F1, the decision was made in collaboration with the sport’s governing body, the FIM, as well as the promoter and the local authorities in Qatar.
MotoGP said the revised date was chosen to “ensure minimal disruption to the wider MotoGP schedule” and came after “extensive scenario planning and calendar analysis.”
The scheduling change will see the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimão now take place on November 22, and the season finale in Valencia move to November 29, while all other rounds of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship remain unaffected.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP, said: “This decision was taken with great care and in full coordination with our partners in Qatar and across the paddock. Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in MotoGP, as well as ensuring that every Grand Prix is delivered to the highest possible standard.
“We also recognise the importance of providing clarity for our fans as early as possible, and ticket holders will be given the opportunity to rollover their tickets to the next event.
“I would also like to thank our partners in Portimão and Valencia for their collaboration and flexibility in helping us deliver a smooth transition to the revised calendar. We are confident that the updated schedule will allow us to preserve the quality of the championship.”
The ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East began after the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran earlier this month that led to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
With Iran trading strikes with Israel as part of a widening war prompted by the bombardment, the growing conflict has had an effect throughout the region, with multiple sports fixtures in the region impacted in recent weeks.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regional governing body was forced to postpone several matches from its premier Champions League club competition that were due to take place in the Middle East earlier this month, while other matches in basketball, tennis, and cricket were also affected.
Meanwhile, Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, last week said the country will not participate in this year's major men’s FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, to be co-hosted by the United States.
