When is the next race after Japan? Middle East update

By Tammi Fairbairn

With the 2026 Formula 1 season resuming this weekend in Japan, fans are eager to see action back on track. The Suzuka Circuit will mark an exciting moment in the calendar as teams will now have a reduced energy deployment in qualifying to allow all teams to be in contention for pole position.

But when will the next race be?

Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixes have been cancelled.

The races were originally scheduled to take place in mid-April, but now fans will have to wait until May for the first of three American Grand Prixes, this one being held in Miami.

This leaves fans waiting for a recorded five weeks without action. It is now the largest gap in the calendar.

How the story unfolded:

On February 28th, 2026, war broke out after the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran via surprise airstrikes, killing many, including the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Many team personnel and media were left stranded after the Bahrain testing, as all flights were cancelled. Many were finding alternative routes to reach Melbourne for the opening race of the season.

This conflict presented itself as a huge logistical problem for the FIA. The conflict laid out several issues that the FIA needed to prioritise, one of them being the safety of the teams and personnel.

A statement put out by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said,” We are in close contact with our Member Clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly.”

It was rumoured that Portimão and Imola were potential contenders for replacements so that the calendar remained at 24 races. Logistically, that was not feasible, meaning the only option was to scrap the two races.

Is this the first time that conflict has interrupted the F1 season?

However, this is not the first time races have been postponed due to conflict in the Middle East.

In 2011, Bahrain was set to open the season, but due to civil unrest three weeks prior, the FIA made the decision to reschedule the race in October of that year. It was later scrapped from the calendar altogether.