Bahrain Grand Prix heading for cancellation while Saudi Arabia still hopes to host F1 race. The Bahrain Grand Prix appears increasingly likely to be cancelled.

While the geopolitical situation in the Middle East continues to raise concerns, a clear clash has emerged between Eastern and Western media outlets regarding the fate of two upcoming Formula 1 races. If the Bahrain Grand Prix now appears to be heading toward cancellation, there are new claims suggesting that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could still go ahead.

The first race on the calendar, which according to the current schedule should take place from April 10 to 12 at the Sakhir circuit, now appears almost certain to be cancelled. However, the situation surrounding the other Middle Eastern round of the championship remains far less clear.

On social media, several Arab media outlets have expressed confidence that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will still be held. Until yesterday, the official profile of the race continued to promote the fourth round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, with ticket sales still open and promotional content encouraging fans to attend the event.

This position has also been supported by Saudi journalist Ibrahim Al-Zubaidi, who stated on his personal account that the sporting event will not be cancelled, contrary to what he described as “dirty Western journalism.”

Saudi Arabia responds and criticizes Western media

“Yes, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has stated that the official announcement about the fate of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will be made on March 20,” reads a message published on his profile.

“However, I have private sources confirming that preparations for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are continuing; furthermore, the official account of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix continues to promote ticket sales and encourage the public to attend the race,” he continued.

Al-Zubaidi then accused Western media outlets of “inventing excuses to cancel the race in Saudi Arabia: one time they say there is war, another time they claim there is a logistical issue.”

According to the journalist, European and other international media outlets are using the ongoing conflict as a pretext. “They are now clinging to this latest excuse after realizing that there is no real danger in holding the race in Jeddah, since it is far from the war zones, unlike Bahrain!” he said.

The threat of escalation

It is important to remember that the FIA will only officially announce the fate of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix on March 20. Until that date, it remains impossible to predict how the situation in the Middle East will evolve.

In the current scenario, the city of Jeddah is geographically distant from the active war zones and could potentially be considered safe. However, the possibility of escalation and retaliatory actions remains a major concern.

The Houthi rebels from Yemen — who already launched missiles approximately 20 kilometers from the circuit four years ago — have recently renewed their threats against commercial shipping routes in the Suez Canal. They have also declared their intention to target Saudi Arabia in retaliation for ongoing military operations.

There is also a significant logistical challenge to consider. Air traffic in the region is slowly returning to normal levels, but several flights in the Gulf area are still being cancelled or reduced.

Transporting Formula 1 equipment close to a potential conflict zone therefore represents a very real operational risk, adding further uncertainty to the organization of the upcoming race weekends.