The upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will reportedly be cancelled (Image: Getty)
This year’s F1 calendar will reportedly be shortened by two races due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The sporting world has been rocked since hostilities began in late February, following joint strikes from the United States and Israel on Iran, who responded by targeting military sites throughout the Gulf region. Tennis, cricket and football have all been impacted by the knock-on effects of the war.
It seems F1 will also be affected, with two upcoming races set to be cancelled as a result of the conflict. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were among the nations affected by Iran’s retaliatory strikes and will be removed from the 2026 calendar, according to Crash. An announcement is expected this weekend, but it won’t mark the first time F1 bosses have been forced to take drastic measures.
Express Sport looks at every Grand Prix to have been cancelled in the past…
France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany – 1955
Four races were axed in 1955 following that year’s infamous Le Mans disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 80 spectators in addition to driver Pierre Levegh.
The incident unfolded when Levegh’s car made contact with another vehicle, causing pieces of debris to fly into the stands at high speed. A wave of grief swept through the motorsport community in response to the shocking incident.
Upcoming F1 races in France, Switzerland, Spain and Germany were all cancelled, leading to the 1955 season being significantly shortened.
Belgium, Netherlands – 1957
Economic difficulties and disputes over reduced starting money forced the cancellations of the Belgian Grand Prix and Dutch Grand Prix back in 1957.
Organisers asked teams to accept lower payouts due to the economic challenges and fuel shortages caused by the Suez Crisis a year earlier.
Teams were unwilling to race under those conditions, though, meaning both events were scrapped at the eleventh hour.
Belgium – 1969
Another cancellation of the Belgian Grand Prix took place in 1969 because of safety concerns at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
It came after Jackie Stewart demanded the implementation of necessary changes to improve driver safety at the notoriously difficult track.
Those requests were turned down, with organisers citing short notice and bureaucratic challenges. As a result, the newly-formed Grand Prix Drivers Association (GDPA) withdrew their labour and the race was unable to go ahead.
The Belgian Grand Prix has been cancelled on several past occasions (Image: Getty)
USA – 1981
Initially set to be held at Watkins Glen, the United States Grand Prix in 1981 was scrapped due to financial difficulties impacting organisers.
Belgium – 1985
This was the only race to have been cancelled in the middle of a Grand Prix weekend. Crucially, a new surface had been installed just two weeks before the event was due to begin.
During free practice, parts of the track started breaking up and it quickly became apparent that it would be impossible to stage a race at the circuit.
It was later revealed that new tarmac had been applied to the entire width of the circuit, including areas not earmarked for resurfacing. As a result, it failed to set properly and the race was called off the night before it was due to be held.
Portugal – 1997
The race was supposed to take place at the Estoril Circuit but was cancelled by the FIA because organisers failed to implement safety improvements requested by the governing body.
The date was subsequently reassigned to the European Grand Prix, which was held at Circuito de Jerez in Spain.
Bahrain – 2011
Organisers were forced to cancel the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2011 following the Arab Spring, a series of anti-government protests and uprisings across the Middle East.
Nabeel Rajab, the vice president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, suggested that protesters would stage demonstrations at the Bahrain International Circuit to make use of the global spotlight F1 would provide.
As a result, it was scrapped by Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the crown prince of Bahrain.
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Germany – 2015
The race collapsed due to financial issues and was later rescheduled as a biannual event, before dropping off the calendar permanently after 2019.
Various – 2020/21
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in the sporting world and F1 was no different, with several races being cancelled.
Teams had arrived in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix when members of the paddock began testing positive for the virus, leading to a late decision to scrap it. The race was also cancelled the following year for the same reason.
Other races were called off in Vietnam, China, the Netherlands, Monaco, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Singapore, Japan, the USA, Mexico and Brazil.
Russia – 2022
Russia‘s contract to host a Grand Prix at the Sochi International Circuit was terminated by F1 following the invasion of Ukraine. It remains without a place on the calendar to this day.
Emilia-Romagna – 2023
Severe flooding in northern Italy forced the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 2023, which was due to be held at the iconic Imola circuit.
It was called off to ensure the maximum availability of emergency services to treat victims of the disaster, rather than being stationed at the track.
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