Saudi Arabian GP determination delaying major F1 cancellation decision

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is pushing hard to retain its slot on the F1 calendar, as significant doubts remain over the race's viability, RacingNews365 understands.

Discussions have taken place and remain ongoing over the running of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs in mid-April, owing to the Middle East crisis prompted by the United States and Israel launching military strikes against Iran and its subsequent retaliation.

A Pirelli tyre test in Bahrain was cancelled between February 28th and March 1st after the attacks began, with Iran launching a missile at the US Navy's Fifth Fleet command centre in Bahrain, with missiles also being launched at Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. 

There remains heavy flight disruption throughout the Persian Gulf states, with Dubai International Airport being the target of attacks. 

Against this backdrop, the futures of the Bahrain race, set for the weekend of April 10th-12th, and Saudi Arabia the following weekend, have been called into question, with outright cancellation the most likely option instead of a postponement until later in the year.

F1 insists that the situation is being closely monitored, with there being time before a final decision must be made over whether to call the races off, but a deadline is looming imminently owing to the need to transport freight to Sakhir for the first race of the double-header. 

RacingNews365 understands that the organisers of the race in Jeddah are pushing hard to keep its place on the calendar, although the future of the Saudi race is inextricably linked to the Bahrain event. 

It is understood that if one grand prix of the two is cancelled, then the other will also be called off, placing F1 in a difficult situation. 

In the event of both races being cancelled, F1 will drop to a 22-race calendar in 2026, with no replacement events being held, meaning there will be no grands prix in April. 

Imola and Portimao had been touted as potential replacements, although Imola is not a viable option owing to its hosting of the FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener on April 19th - the day of the planned Saudi GP. 

This means Imola could only replace the Bahrain GP, but the logistics of running an F1 race and FIA WEC race on back-to-back weekends is believed to be a significant logistical challenge for the circuit. 

As such, and provided there are no further cancellations of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs later in the year, the F1 season will feature 22 races for the first time since 2023.