Formula 1 is set to lose an estimated £100 million after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, scheduled for April, due to escalating conflict in the Middle East. The races, originally planned for 12 and 19 April respectively, were called off amid Iranian missile strikes targeting locations in both countries, including a hotel in Manama, Bahrain, that typically accommodates F1 personnel.
The cancellations, announced during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, mean F1 will forfeit some of its highest hosting fees. Saudi Arabia pays approximately £55 million ($72 million) per race, tied with Qatar for the most, while Bahrain contributes an estimated £45 million ($60 million). The sport is unlikely to replace the races this season, despite considering European venues, due to logistical challenges.
Both nations have deep financial ties to F1: Bahrain owns the McLaren team, and Saudi Arabia is a major sponsor via state-owned oil company Aramco. The loss of these fees will impact F1's overall revenues, though with the calendar still comprising 22 races, the effect is expected to be minimal.
A precedent exists for cancellation without replacement; the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was called off due to unrest, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone later confirmed that Bahrain paid its hosting fee regardless. It remains unclear whether Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will do the same this time.
The wider motorsport community has also been affected. MotoGP's Qatar round on 12 April faces significant uncertainty, while the World Endurance Championship event in Doha, originally scheduled for late March, has been postponed to October.
