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The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix may be canceled due to Middle East conflicts involving Iran. But, they reportedly will not be replaced in the current 2026 F1 calendar.
(Credit: AP)
Formula 1 could be heading toward an unusual scenario this season: if the Bahrain or Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are cancelled, they likely won’t be replaced on the calendar.
And according to a report by Crash.comthis is mainly because the current situation in the Middle East, triggered by escalating conflict involving Iran, has thrown travel and logistics across the region into chaos.
Air strikes and flight disruptions have already affected sporting events, with the World Endurance Championship postponing its Qatar season opener for safety reasons.
Naturally, attention has now shifted to F1’s upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which sit next in the calendar after the early flyaway rounds.
But even if those races are called off, F1 insiders say the sport is unlikely to plug the gap with replacement events.
The Calendar Problem
The report states that the biggest reason is simple: the schedule is already packed.
Modern F1 calendars are extremely tight, leaving very little room to slot in extra races. Finding a venue that is ready, willing, and capable of hosting a Grand Prix on short notice is much harder than it sounds.
Unlike during the pandemic in 2020 (when F1 created replacement races to keep the season alive), the current championship already has a full calendar locked in, meaning adding another round would be complicated.
Logistics Are a Major Headache
Another huge challenge mentioned is freight and travel logistics.
F1 teams move enormous amounts of equipment around the world. The sport runs on carefully timed shipping schedules, and changing those plans at short notice can cause major disruption.
If a Middle East race disappears from the calendar, teams would already be preparing to move freight from the previous events in Asia. Rearranging that entire pipeline for a replacement race would be extremely difficult.
Safety Comes First
Above all, safety remains the priority.
F1 and the FIA are closely monitoring the geopolitical situation and staying in contact with teams and organisers. No one wants to risk sending drivers, staff, or equipment into a potentially dangerous environment.
What It Means For The Season
If Bahrain or Saudi Arabia do end up being cancelled, the most likely outcome is a shorter F1 season rather than a reshuffled one.
In other words, instead of scrambling for a replacement venue, F1 may simply move on to the next scheduled race and keep the championship rolling.
March 05, 2026, 11:39 PM IST
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