The 2026 Formula 1 (F1) season is already underway, with the opening races completed in Australia and China. As the championship calendar moves forward, attention has now shifted to the Middle East, where rising geopolitical tensions have cast uncertainty around two of Formula 1's upcoming events,

Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled slots in the countries.

Formula 1 may be in Shanghai for its second race of the season this weekend, but the eyes of the motorsports world are currently fixated on two other races on the calendar. In April, the racing series was set to stage grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia,

Other major business events across the UAE, such as Middle East Energy Dubai and the Dubai International Boat Show, have also been postponed or delayed.

Oliver Rowland took his wife Lauren Rowland and kids Harper and Hennie to Melbourne amid rising tension in the Middle East. They cheered for his protege Arvid Lindblad at the Australian Grand Prix, where he made his F1 debut with Racing Bulls.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered a third week, with Israel announcing a barrage of new strikes on western Iran on Sunday, while the U.S. defense department released the names of six service members who died when their military refueling aircraft crashed.