Formula 1 has announced the cancellation of the upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
As a result, the Japanese Grand Prix now marks the beginning of a lengthy four-week break in the F1 calendar. Given the short notice, F1 bosses have confirmed there will be no replacement races, reducing the 2026 season to 22 grands prix.
The loss of the Bahrain–Saudi double-header also means there will be no racing in April for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali 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 incredible promoters, for their support and total understanding. They were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion, and we cannot wait to return as soon as circumstances allow.”
When is the next F1 race after Japan?
With both April races cancelled, the next Formula 1 round will be the Miami Grand Prix. The event is scheduled for 1–3 May, creating a four-week gap between races.
The shortened calendar also reduces valuable track time, which could prove significant as teams continue adapting to the 2026 regulation changes.
Ferrari have reportedly requested that the FIA lift the ban on in-season testing during April to allow teams to gather additional data. However, according to Nextgen-Auto, the proposal has little support, with Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin all said to be reluctant to approve the change.
What is the schedule for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix?
The Miami Grand Prix will take place across the first weekend of May and will host the second sprint weekend of the season.
Running from May 1–3 at the Miami International Autodrome, Sunday’s main race is set to begin at 4pm local time.
| SESSION | DATE | TRACK TIME (EDT) | UK TIME (BST) | AUS TIME (ACT) |
| Practice 1 | Friday 1 May | 12:30pm – 1:30pm | 5:30pm – 6:30pm | 3am – 4am |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday 1 May | 4:30pm | 9:30pm | 7am |
| Sprint | Saturday 2 May | 12pm | 5pm – 6pm | 2:30am – 3:30am |
| Qualifying | Saturday 2 May | 4pm | 9pm | 6:30am |
| Race | Sunday 3 May | 4pm | 9pm | 6:30am |
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