Formula 1 announced Saturday that it has canceled the 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the growing security risks facing teams, staff, and spectators.

The decision affects races that were scheduled to take place in April at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. Organizers said the cancellations came after what the sport described as careful evaluations of the rapidly evolving security situation in the region.

Officials confirmed that the two events will not be replaced on the calendar, leaving a gap in the early portion of the Formula 1 season. Support races tied to the Formula 1 weekend, including Formula 2, Formula 3, and the F1 Academy series, will also not take place in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as originally planned.

The move follows heightened tensions and instability across parts of the Middle East as the war involving Iran continues to escalate. Both Gulf nations have recently faced Iranian missile and drone strikes that have caused casualties and damage, raising concerns about the safety of large international sporting events.

Formula 1 said the decision was made in coordination with the sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), as well as local race promoters in both countries.

Formula 1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said the cancellation was necessary given the circumstances.

“While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” Domenicali said in a statement.

Bahrain has been a staple of the Formula 1 calendar since hosting its first race in 2004. In recent seasons, the Bahrain Grand Prix has often served as the season opener or one of the earliest races of the year.

Saudi Arabia joined the Formula 1 schedule more recently, debuting its Grand Prix in 2021. The race is held on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a high-speed street track that runs along the Red Sea in the port city of Jeddah.

Domenicali thanked the FIA and the event promoters for their cooperation and support, adding that Formula 1 hopes to return to both venues once conditions in the region improve and the events can be staged safely.