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Formula 1: two Grand Prix will be canceled due to war

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The rumor is spreading in the paddock on the sidelines of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai: according to rumors, instability in the Persian Gulf created by the war in the Middle East will force Formula 1 to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled for April 12 and 19, respectively. The final announcement will come by this weekend. Reporting the rumors are Marca, Sky Sport Germany and other media.

Such a tight schedule between races, and the related logistical impediments, do not allow the replacement of the two events by running on other circuits: the calendar will therefore be reduced momentarily to 22 races, with a break of about a month between the Japan event and the Miami race.

Inclusion of alternative races to return to the original number of 24 remains open speculation. Formula 1 is scheduled to return to the Middle East at the end of the year in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6: If the conflict is still ongoing, those races would also be at great risk.

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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): $12 million. The Canadian driver is in his sixth season with the British team
Alex Albon (Williams): $12 million. The Thai is in his fifth consecutive year at Williams
Pierre Gasly (Alpine): $12.5 million. The French driver moved to Alpine in 2023
Oscar Piastri (McLaren): $13 million. The'Australian finished third last season
Carlos Sainz (Williams): $13 million for the'former Ferrarista, at Williams since last season
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): $20 million. The Spanish two-time world champion driver is the most experienced on the grid
Lando Norris (McLaren): $30 million. The world champion is only fifth in this special ranking
George Russell (Mercedes): $34 million. The British driver goes after his first world title this season
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): $34 million. The Monegasque wants to break the curse of the Italian stable, which has not won a drivers’ title since 2007
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): $60 million. After last season’s disappointments, the British driver wants to redeem himself
Max Verstappen (Red Bull): $70 million. Lavish contract for the four-time world champion, who in 2025 finished second

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Following the start of hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran last Feb. 28, the FIA and F1 had been monitoring the situation together with promoters and race authorities. In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, they hoped not to cancel the race by being farther away from the conflict zone, but logistical impediments and air transportation difficulties made it impossible to save the GP.

The race was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

On the front of possible solutions, the name of Imola has already been circulating insistently as a potential alternative venue. Pietro Benvenuti, Director of the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, responded cautiously but without hiding the availability of the Emilian track: “We do not want to speculate on this situation, it would not be correct. We, last year, proved that we can organize an F1 GP so we are ready. If anyone needs us, we will be ready”. However, Benvenuti also downplayed expectations of an immediate recovery of cancelled races, stressing that “with this year&#8217s tight schedule, with logistical issues, there will be no recoveries. At most maybe a few double races on the same circuit”.

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