Formula 1 to cancel 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid Middle East conflict

[Hoffman900]

No, and the longer this goes on, the entire financial solvency in F1 is in question as it’s Middle East money largely keeping these teams and the series afloat, but that said, I can’t read the future.

Liberty’s stock price dropped this week because investors know this, Saudi PIF is a major sponsor via Aramco, plus Aston Martin’s team, Bahrain basically owns Mclaren, plus 4 races of host fees that are very lucrative and the highest paying in the series.

F1 risks the double whammy of a potential rule set turing fans away and the financial hit from Middle East cash.

NASCAR has already seen it’s fortunes wane with unpopular cars and known big names retiring, losing half its market share since peak. F1 certaintly can make the same mistakes, plus add in exposure of international politics.

[bluechris]

There will be no races there guys, its war i don't understand what you are discussing here really.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

That's not how that works. As long as countries that the teams are based in, chiefly the UK, are saying don't travel there, the teams won't get insurance and neither will the people. No insurance, no race and nobody is going to do that on the word of the Iranian president.

Also worth remembering the drivers nearly boycotted the Saudi race after one explosion near the track a few years ago.

Exactly. Outside of the teams, you also need Marshalls etc who would be travelling from the UK and other countries and they aren't going to be able to get cover if a travel advisory remains in place.

Travel advisories can be removed. It’s called diplomacy. Standing advisories impact the tourism industry. They will work to remove them IF the conditions and stability in the region can be guaranteed. You think places like Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai will stay under advisory forever?

Ah yes, the usual Reductio ad absurdum argument I have come to expect from you. No-one else can possibly know better can they?

Did anyone say that they expect them to stay under an advisory forever?

No.

But the decision will need to be made in a matter of days, a week or two at most.

Signs are that this will drag on a lot longer than that.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Put another way. I've spoken first hand with some contacts who were supposed to be working at the Bahrain GP and they have already said that they are not going, even if the race somehow goes ahead.

[ScottB]

That's not how that works. As long as countries that the teams are based in, chiefly the UK, are saying don't travel there, the teams won't get insurance and neither will the people. No insurance, no race and nobody is going to do that on the word of the Iranian president.

Also worth remembering the drivers nearly boycotted the Saudi race after one explosion near the track a few years ago.

Exactly. Outside of the teams, you also need Marshalls etc who would be travelling from the UK and other countries and they aren't going to be able to get cover if a travel advisory remains in place.

Travel advisories can be removed. It’s called diplomacy. Standing advisories impact the tourism industry. They will work to remove them IF the conditions and stability in the region can be guaranteed. You think places like Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai will stay under advisory forever?

Iran have carried on attacking other Gulf countries, so it’s all really a moot point, isn’t it, in terms of a race anytime soon. As said, nobody is going to take a promise from the Iranian president on anything, apparently including his own armed forces.

Forever? No, the war will eventually end, but given it very much has not ended, no races until then.

[AR3-GP]

Iran have carried on attacking other Gulf countries, so it’s all really a moot point, isn’t it, in terms of a race anytime soon. As said, nobody is going to take a promise from the Iranian president on anything, apparently including his own armed forces.

Forever? No, the war will eventually end, but given it very much has not ended, no races until then.

Yep I've seen the latest developments. There won't be any racing.

[Jambier]

So they are cancelled but still count for ADUO

[FW17]

Double billing with Indy 9th May 2026 after Miami on the way to Montreal

[De Wet]

They should schedule a 3 day test at Silverstone to replace it.

[Farnborough]

They should schedule a 3 day test at Silverstone to replace it.

Silverstone not really a great track to watch cars, or motorcycles for that matter.

Portugal or Mugello Italy would be preferable from a spectator point of view. Give each driver 150 laps to use, test drivers 50 laps for each team, and just get on with it. No team could collate circuit specific data for later in season either.

Can't see it happening though.

[Stu]

Double billing with Indy 9th May 2026 after Miami on the way to Montreal

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.c ... /IGP26.png
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... DrdoHTjQ&s

That would be good, but Pirelli would probably ‘have kittens’ and say “No!”

[FW17]

Double billing with Indy 9th May 2026 after Miami on the way to Montreal

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.c ... /IGP26.png
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... DrdoHTjQ&s

That would be good, but Pirelli would probably ‘have kittens’ and say “No!”

Indy layout does not use the banked turn 1

[De Wet]

They should schedule a 3 day test at Silverstone to replace it.

Silverstone not really a great track to watch cars, or motorcycles for that matter.

Portugal or Mugello Italy would be preferable from a spectator point of view. Give each driver 150 laps to use, test drivers 50 laps for each team, and just get on with it. No team could collate circuit specific data for later in season either.

Can't see it happening though.

Silverstone has more than 1 layout. It's close for all teams and thus cost effective - including new/broken parts transportation. Allow 2 cars with 120 laps max per car per day.

[Farnborough]

They should schedule a 3 day test at Silverstone to replace it.

Silverstone not really a great track to watch cars, or motorcycles for that matter.

Portugal or Mugello Italy would be preferable from a spectator point of view. Give each driver 150 laps to use, test drivers 50 laps for each team, and just get on with it. No team could collate circuit specific data for later in season either.

Can't see it happening though.

Silverstone has more than 1 layout. It's close for all teams and thus cost effective - including new/broken parts transportation. Allow 2 cars with 120 laps max per car per day.

Oh I do understand the logistics, but watching motorsport at UK circuits from very young age, rate Silverstone the least exciting to see them. It may be interesting to drivers, and to see absolute head-2-head intense battle, but outside that its pretty mundane from spectator point of view. We'll see a race there anyway this year, one is enough in my view.

There's three European southern-ish based teams in F1 that give some semblance of logistics balance to my choice, Mugello and Partugal Algarve offer far far more interesting opportunity to watch these car running, and don't give a current circuit perspective to data collection for teams to gain specific advantage.

[De Wet]

Silverstone not really a great track to watch cars, or motorcycles for that matter.

Portugal or Mugello Italy would be preferable from a spectator point of view. Give each driver 150 laps to use, test drivers 50 laps for each team, and just get on with it. No team could collate circuit specific data for later in season either.

Can't see it happening though.

Silverstone has more than 1 layout. It's close for all teams and thus cost effective - including new/broken parts transportation. Allow 2 cars with 120 laps max per car per day.

Oh I do understand the logistics, but watching motorsport at UK circuits from very young age, rate Silverstone the least exciting to see them. It may be interesting to drivers, and to see absolute head-2-head intense battle, but outside that its pretty mundane from spectator point of view. We'll see a race there anyway this year, one is enough in my view.

There's three European southern-ish based teams in F1 that give some semblance of logistics balance to my choice, Mugello and Partugal Algarve offer far far more interesting opportunity to watch these car running, and don't give a current circuit perspective to data collection for teams to gain specific advantage.

It's testing... Not racing.