Formula 1 is looking for alternatives in case of race cancellations
Formula 1 management is considering alternative options in case the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are cancelled.
Those races are scheduled for 12 and 19 April. The safety of spectators and participants is the priority, even if military activity in the area has ended. If doubts remain in the coming weeks, cancelling the events may become unavoidable.
The contingency plan is being prepared along the lines of the approach used during the pandemic. “Reserve” circuits such as Imola and Portimao are available, but transporting equipment takes time, so the earlier a decision is made, the better.
No official decision has been taken yet, and alternative venues have not been named. However, as tension in the region continues, the likelihood of postponements or moving the races elsewhere increases.
There have been dozens of races in Formula 1 history that were placed on the calendar but later cancelled for various reasons. Let’s take a look at them.
1951: Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix was removed from the calendar due to budget problems and the absence of certain sporting regulations.
1952: Spanish Grand Prix
Financial problems led to the cancellation of the Spanish Grand Prix, which was originally scheduled for late October. The same issue led to its cancellation from the calendar the following year.
1954: Dutch Grand Prix
Financial issues hindered the race from taking place.
1955: French, German, Swiss and Spanish Grands Prix
After the famous Le Mans disaster on 11 June 1955, the French Grand Prix planned for 3 July was postponed to 25 September due to safety concerns. However, it was later cancelled along with three other races. The Swiss Grand Prix also did not take place the next year due to a government ban on motorsport.
1956: Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix
This time the issue was the “Suez Crisis”, which had escalated since mid-year. The Dutch race planned for 17 June was cancelled due to financial difficulties, while the Spanish Grand Prix due to take place on 28 October was cancelled because the crisis turned into a military conflict and led to fuel shortages.
1957: Belgian, Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix
The crisis continued to affect the F1 calendar. Belgium joined the list alongside the Netherlands and Spain. Spain was again scheduled for late October, with the other two planned for June.
1959: Argentine, Belgian and Moroccan Grands Prix
Argentina was initially on the calendar but was cancelled due to sharply reduced interest after local drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González retired. Belgium and Morocco were cancelled due to the era’s frequent financial problems.
1960: Moroccan Grand Prix
The reason was the same as the year before. There is also a lesser-known backstory: at the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix, Vanwall driver Stuart Lewis-Evans — a close friend of Bernie Ecclestone — died after a crash. After that, Bernie stepped away from F1 for a period. The Moroccan government and organisers cut funding due to the negative reputation created by the tragedy and the loss of support from the royal family.
1961: Moroccan, Argentine and Portuguese Grands Prix
Morocco was cancelled for the same reasons as the previous two years. In Argentina, interest again fell after local drivers retired, as in 1959. Political instability also raised safety concerns.
1969: Belgian Grand Prix
After inspecting the circuit, Jackie Stewart demanded several safety changes. When circuit management did not comply, drivers boycotted the race.
1971: Argentine, Belgian and Mexican Grands Prix
No clear information exists on why Argentina did not take place; it is believed the race may have been mistakenly listed on the calendar. Belgium was cancelled again due to the circuit not meeting safety requirements. Mexico was cancelled due to organisational problems and the death of Pedro Rodríguez shortly before the event.
1972: United States Grand Prix (West), Dutch Grand Prix and Mexican Grand Prix
F1 instructed Ontario’s organisers to conduct tests before the planned April 9 race. The failure to conduct these tests prevented the United States from staging a second race that year. Lack of funds prevented the implementation of safety measures at Zandvoort. The Mexican Grand Prix was cancelled for reasons similar to those of the previous year.
1975: Canadian Grand Prix
The race was intended to be the season finale, but it was cancelled due to a dispute between championship management and the sponsors Labatt and Molson.
1976: Argentine Grand Prix
Economic and political reasons once again prevented the country from hosting the race.
1978: Japanese Grand Prix
In the final year of a three-year contract, Japan cannot organise the race due to safety and financial problems.
1979: Swedish Grand Prix
The race planned for 17 June at Anderstorp was cancelled following the deaths of two Swedish drivers, Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson. Sweden never hosted F1 again.
1980: Mexican, Swedish and Caesars Palace (USA) Grands Prix
Mexico was cancelled because renovation work at the Rodríguez brothers’ circuit was not completed. Sweden was cancelled for the same reason as the year before. In the USA, a third race in that season did not materialise.
1981: United States Grand Prix
The Watkins Glen race was cancelled due to the organizer’s financial difficulties. It was replaced by the Caesars Palace Grand Prix.
1982: Argentine and Spanish Grands Prix
Argentina was cancelled due to a lack of sponsors, several drivers not attending, and political unrest. The Spanish Grand Prix planned for Jarama was first removed for non-payment of the previous year’s fee, then reinstated and moved to June after payment — but teams protested the narrow, outdated venue, and the race was cancelled.
1983: Argentine, Soviet Union and New York Grands Prix
Races planned for Buenos Aires, New York and Moscow were also cancelled for various reasons, despite dates being set. Bureaucracy blocked Moscow’s debut. New York was planned again over the next two years but ultimately never happened.
1984: Hungarian Grand Prix
Hungary hoped to debut at the Népliget Park circuit, but preparations were not completed in time for the 7 October date. The New York plan also failed again.
1985: Dallas, Japanese, Hungarian and Mexican Grands Prix
Dallas was cancelled due to financial problems. The Japanese race at Suzuka was cancelled because the circuit was not fully ready. Hungary was cancelled due to a range of difficulties. Mexico was cancelled due to an earthquake.
1987: Canadian Grand Prix
In 1975, Labatt and Molson were again at the center of the issue. Their sponsorship battle resulted in the cancellation of the race.
1992: United States, Austrian and European Grands Prix
The US Grand Prix, planned as the season’s second round, was cancelled because additional seating could not be installed to attract spectators. Austria was cancelled due to financial problems.
1993: Asian Grand Prix
Planned for 4 April in Japan but cancelled because preparations were not completed.
1994: Argentine Grand Prix
Initially scheduled for 16 October but cancelled on 1 June because work at the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez — being modernised since 1991 — was still ongoing and the owners did not complete the project.
1997: Portuguese Grand Prix
Cancelled because required circuit changes were not implemented. The federation rejected a request to move it to November.
1998: Portuguese Grand Prix
Cancelled again for the same reason: the government did not allocate a budget for the required upgrades. The cancellation created a five-week gap in the calendar.
1999: Chinese and Argentine Grands Prix
China was added but did not take place due to specific issues. Argentina was added as a replacement, but the race scheduled for March 28 was cancelled due to disagreements between organisers and commercial rights holders, leaving a five-week gap between the first two races.
2003: Belgian Grand Prix
The Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled due to disputes over tobacco advertising.
2009: Canadian Grand Prix
The race again ran into sponsor-related problems.
2011: Bahrain Grand Prix
Unrest and anti-government protests led to the race’s cancellation. The Sakhir race had been set to open the season.
2017: German Grand Prix
Hockenheim had an agreement to rotate with Nürburgring because they could not organise the race every year. Nürburgring later withdrew, and the race was removed from the calendar in March.
2020: Australian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Dutch, Monaco, Azerbaijani, Canadian, French, Singapore, Japanese, United States, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix
COVID-19 reshaped the entire season. Teams travelled to Australia, but the race did not take place. Decisions to cancel other races followed quickly. However, the FIA and F1 management managed to create a new 17-race calendar.
2021: Chinese, Canadian, Singaporean, Japanese and Australian Grands Prix
The coronavirus prevented five races from being held.
2022: Chinese and Russian Grands Prix
Shanghai was cancelled again due to travel restrictions. Russia was removed from the calendar due to the war in Ukraine.
2023: Russian, Chinese and Emilia-Romagna Grands Prix
Sochi was due to be replaced from 2023 by a new circuit planned near Saint Petersburg, but the war prevented it. Despite the contract covering future years, no races were held there thereafter. China closed its doors to Formula 1 for a fourth consecutive year due to the pandemic. The Imola race was cancelled due to flooding.