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Formula One’s upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are now highly likely to be cancelled due to escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Senior paddock sources have indicated to Reuters that the races will not be replaced, reducing the 2026 calendar to 22 rounds from the originally scheduled 24.

The floodlit Bahrain race at the Sakhir circuit, south of Manama, is slated for 12 April, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah the subsequent weekend.

The wider motorsport community is also affected, with MotoGP’s Qatar round at Lusail, near Doha, on 12 April facing significant difficulties and unlikely to be rescheduled.

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) event in Doha, originally set for 26-28 March, has already been postponed.

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Next month’s race in Saudi Arabia looks likely to be cancelled (Getty Images)

The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain’s capital, Manama, having been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

A hotel in Manama was reportedly hit, and major airports in the region, crucial international travel hubs, remain closed.

Rescheduling the Formula One races at their original venues later in the year presents considerable challenges.

Temperatures in the region soar during the European summer and autumn, making racing impractical.

Furthermore, the existing F1 calendar offers no obvious alternative slots, as the sport is keen to preserve its August break and alleviate the demanding schedule for teams.

While media speculation has suggested alternative circuits such as Italy’s Imola, France’s Le Castellet, Portugal’s Portimao, and Turkey’s Istanbul Park, the logistical complexities of relocating the entire F1 operation at short notice are immense.

Promoters would also have little incentive, facing a limited window to sell tickets to cover hosting fees, alongside the time-consuming organisation of marshals, security, and transport.

An option to host a second race at Japan’s Suzuka after round three has also been mooted, but this would introduce its own set of problems, not least for track owners Honda, who would likely be reluctant to draw further attention to their engine partnership issues with Aston Martin.

Although races were held behind closed doors at stand-in venues during the Covid-19 pandemic, sometimes with two events in succession, there was a pressing need then to complete a season.

A reduced 22-race calendar, while still extensive by historical standards, would nonetheless fulfil commercial obligations, albeit with a likely reduction in Formula One’s overall revenues.

The Middle Eastern races are significant financial contributors to Formula One, and both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have deep ties to the sport; Bahrain owns McLaren, while Saudi Arabia is a prominent sponsor and investor.

A precedent for cancellation without replacement exists: the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was called off due to unrest in the kingdom and was not rescheduled after teams objected to a late October date.

At the time, the circuit chairman, who later became a government minister, stated: “We want our role in Formula One to continue to be as positive and constructive as it has always been, therefore, in the best interest of the sport, we will not pursue the rescheduling of a race this season.”

Formula One’s then-commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone later confirmed that Bahrain had paid its hosting fee regardless.

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F1 chiefs are due to make a decision on the Middle East races in the coming days (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)

Current Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), have both emphasised that safety is paramount.

“We don’t want to do any statement today because things are evolving and we still have time to make the right decision. This decision will be taken together,” Domenicali told Sky Sports television in Melbourne, ahead of an expected meeting with F1 bosses on Saturday.

McLaren boss Zak Brown commented on the situation: “It’s the first get-together of all the teams. There’s been very little communication about it (the situation) yet because of the effort that it took just to get here to Australia.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added: “I would very much hope we race. Is it realistic that we race there at the moment? I’m not quite sure.”

While Formula One has some time before a final decision is required, other deadlines are fast approaching. Formula Two, a key support series, is due to fly its freight to Bahrain on Monday for a test at Sakhir from 25-27 March, following its season opener in Australia this weekend.

A senior source within the Formula Two paddock indicated that teams are awaiting clarification but anticipate both the test and race will be cancelled, with an announcement potentially coming over the weekend.

Should the Bahrain and Saudi F2 rounds be cancelled without replacement, the championship’s second race would not occur until Monaco in June.