Bahrain Grand Prix remains cancelled; officials consider October reschedule as motorsport adjusts

Bahrain's Sustainable Development Minister Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif said the kingdom has not drawn on its $5.3 billion currency‑swap agreement with the United Arab Emirates despite the economic strain caused by the regional conflict with Iran. She added that talks are under way about reinstating the Bahrain Grand Prix, possibly on the weekend of Oct 3‑4, but no confirmation has been given. “There is the talks about maybe plugging in some of the races that were cancelled back into the calendar,” Alkhulaif told Reuters.

The cancellation, prompted by hostilities that disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, has left a slot open in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Formula 1 officials are evaluating options to fill the gap, while the series faces limited open weekends.

In related developments, Formula 3 announced an expanded 2026 season‑finale format in Madrid, Spain, to compensate for the lost Bahrain round. The weekend will feature double feature races and a two‑day test in late August, aiming to preserve ten feature‑race opportunities for teams and sponsors.