Formula 1 has cancelled its upcoming Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for April, citing safety concerns due to the ongoing Iran war, while drivers are simultaneously raising alarms over the increasingly complex and potentially dangerous start procedures for the new 2026 cars.

Middle East Races Called Off Amid Regional Instability

The highly anticipated Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grands Prix, scheduled for April 12 and April 19 respectively, won't proceed. Formula 1 and its governing body, the FIA, confirmed the decision early Sunday morning in Shanghai, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

The cancellations stem from significant safety concerns related to the escalating Iran war, which has seen both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia affected by retaliatory attacks. F1 officials emphasized that the safety and well-being of the racing community and personnel remain paramount.

“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix won't take place in April,” F1 stated in an official announcement. While alternatives were explored, no substitute races will fill the April void.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “While this was a difficult decision to take, it's unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” Domenicali said. He also thanked the FIA and local promoters for their understanding.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, echoed these sentiments, stating, “The FIA will always place the safety and well being of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.”

The immediate impact on the F1 calendar is a five-week hiatus between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. This extended break means the 2026 season, initially slated for 24 races, is now likely to be reduced to 22, making it the shortest schedule since 2023.

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While F1 and the FIA didn't explicitly use the terms “cancel” or “postpone,” they left the door open for potential rescheduling later in the year. However, F1’s notoriously packed schedule offers few obvious open dates, making a return for these races seem challenging. Ben Sulayem affirmed the importance of these venues, saying, “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.”

The decision had to be made well in advance because Formula 1 typically begins flying in staff and cargo to tracks weeks before an event. Selling tickets on short notice for a replacement race in another country would also prove almost impossible. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who secured pole position for the Shanghai race, expressed his concern for those affected by the conflict, stating that safety must be the priority.

Drivers Grapple with Complex New Start Procedures

Adding to the season's complexities, Formula 1 drivers are increasingly concerned about the challenging and unpredictable nature of race starts with the new 2026 car designs and engine rules. The issue was dramatically highlighted at the recent Australian Grand Prix.

George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc reacted with visible shock watching replays of a harrowing near-miss at the start of the Australian race. Alpine driver Franco Colapinto narrowly avoided a collision with Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, whose car had stalled on the grid. Russell almost jumped from his seat, Antonelli covered his mouth, and Leclerc raised a hand to his head, all stunned by Colapinto's incredible reaction to weave around Lawson.

The incident's videos, including onboard footage from Colapinto's car and slow-motion shots, circulated widely online. They showcased the exceptional reflexes of F1 drivers but also amplified existing concerns about race starts this year, which drivers find significantly more complicated due to the new engine regulations.

Lawson himself recounted the terrifying moment. “I was very lucky,” he told reporters in Shanghai. “At that moment, I had braced already in the car because I was looking in the mirror and I could see his car on my left, when he was close to me, and I was sure he was going to hit me.”

Other drivers voiced similar apprehension. Haas driver Esteban Ocon remarked, “You don’t want to see somebody stalled in front of you appearing from nowhere. That’s probably one of the worst crashes you can have.”

The process of getting off the line, once relatively straightforward, has become a fierce debate. The total rewrite of F1’s car design and engine rules for this season has introduced new layers of complexity. Drivers now need to hit precise revs to spool up their engine turbos before launch, then manage the sudden kick of electrical power once they reach approximately 31 mph (50 km/h), all while working through the gears.

Lawson simply described the new procedure as “Not straightforward.”

Not all cars are equal in this new system. Ferrari-powered cars, for instance, have shown an advantage, with their smaller turbos spooling up faster, allowing for quicker getaways. This was evident in Australia, where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton made rapid starts, with Leclerc carving his way from fourth on the grid to lead at the first corner.

To address the safety implications of these start discrepancies, the FIA introduced an updated start procedure during preseason testing. This change added extra time before the lights go out, allowing each car’s turbocharger to spool up sufficiently. But even with this adjustment, drivers still face a careful challenge to maintain the correct revs, ensure a smooth getaway, and avoid activating anti-stall, which can bring a car to a complete halt on the grid. Making consistent starts has emerged as a major challenge since preseason testing began.

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The teams have signaled their willingness to follow the guidance of the FIA and Formula 1 regarding scheduling decisions.

This article was created with AI assistance.