Revisiting all the F1 races that have been cancelled over the years

Formula 1 fans, it’s race week again — the 2026 F1 season finally returns for round four in Miami after a month-long hiatus. The motorsport’s longest-ever season was cut short due to the conflict in the Middle East. And although we missed on-track action, the break was just as entertaining. With the most bizarre F1 updates making headlines and flooding our feeds, and the FIA changing the new regulations, we had more to catch up on during the break than otherwise. But if you missed out on watching the races live from the grandstand, let’s make you feel better. In this feature, we revisit all the F1 races that have been cancelled over the years.

Before we dive any further, let us first understand why the FIA cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races in 2026.

Why were the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs cancelled in 2026?

 

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Let’s begin with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian F1 races that were cancelled in 2026. For a global championship series that races in different countries and on different continents, logistics is a crucial factor that affects the races. The pinnacle of motorsport was already struggling with logistical disruptions before the Australian GP.

Thousands of team members were stranded due to air travel disruption amidst the war. Many F1 teams had to run low on manpower for the very first outing of the season. Thankfully, the cars and equipment had arrived in Australia before the race weekend commenced.

 

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The struggle continued ahead of the Chinese GP as teams faced freight delays, and the engineers and mechanics had to work on the cars until Wednesday. The FIA also had to make multiple changes to curfew rules so that teams could get their cars ready for racing.

Before the F1 calendar arrived at the Japanese GP, the tension in the Gulf region had escalated. After considering multiple alternatives, the FIA decided to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races in March 2026. However, this isn’t the first time the calendar has witnessed multiple rounds being cancelled. Let us now take a look at all the cancelled F1 races in the history of Formula 1.

Wars, pandemics, tragedies, and financial troubles: All the F1 races that had to be cancelled over the years

In 75 years of its storied history, the pinnacle of motorsports has had a jaw-dropping number of cancelled races. From wars to financial troubles, the reasons behind the cancellation will astonish you. Here are the cancelled F1 races according to the decades, from the oldest to the most recent ones.

1950s to 1960s: The most interesting decade of F1 race cancellations

F1 aficionados, you may want to grab a snack as we get into the very first decade of Formula 1 and all the cancellations that followed, as these races will lead you to some of the most interesting F1 facts. What are the central themes behind all the cancellations in this decade? Financial problems, a horribly tragic accident, a war in the Middle East region that led to fuel rationing, and a few more.

Let us take a look at all the cancelled F1 races from the 1950s to the 1960s below:

1. Spanish GP (1952 and 1953)

After making its debut in Formula 1’s second season in 1951, the race did not return for the 1952 and 1953 seasons, respectively. Financial shortcomings saw the race make an early retirement from the F1 calendar. The Spanish GP returned in 1954, only to stop hosting grand prix races from 1955 to 1966.

2. Dutch GP (1954)

The Dutch GP, too, was called off due to a financial crunch. As absurd as the financial struggles angle might sound, you must remember that Formula 1 wasn’t always a glamorous sport like it is today. There was a time the hosts and organisers struggled to make ends meet and put together a race weekend that often led to multiple cancellations.

3. The 24 Hours of Le Mans disaster (1955): French, German, Spanish, and Swiss Grand Prix 

Known as one of the deadliest events in motorsport history, the Le Mans disaster led to multiple F1 races being cancelled in the 50s. The list includes the French, German, Spanish, and Swiss Grand Prix weekends. These cancellations were due to the occurrence of a tragic accident in June that killed over 80 spectators. The 1955 F1 calendar was reduced to just seven races from the initial 11 that were scheduled.

4. The Suez Crisis (1956-1957): Dutch, Spanish, And Belgian Grand Prix

The 1956 Dutch and Spanish GPs, followed by the 1957 Dutch, Spanish, and Belgian GP races, were all cancelled due to the Suez Crisis. The geopolitical conflict led to a major fuel crisis in Europe and other countries, resulting in fuel rationing, affecting motorsports. As a result, multiple F1 races across the regions nearby had to be cancelled in 1956 and 1957.

5. Argentine, Belgian, and Moroccan F1 races (1959)

The Argentine round was abandoned for the 1959 outing due to the lack of the local crowd’s interest in Formula 1, as Juan Manuel Fangio and Jose Froilan Gonzalez retired from motorsport. The Belgian and Moroccan races were called off because of financial shortcomings.

1960s to 1970s: Morocco misses out in 1960 and 1961, Drivers boycott the Belgian Grand Prix in 1969 and 1970

In 1960, the Moroccan Grand Prix missed out on securing a spot in the race calendar due to financial issues and not having enough resources, eventually losing its spot in Formula 1. A few years down the line, in 1969, the Belgian GP became one of the most talked-about races. The former Spa-Francorchamps circuit was notoriously deadly and led to five deaths in two years (1967-1968) up until the 1969 outing.

The F1 drivers demanded safety changes at the circuit, but the management refused to introduce them. It eventually led to the drivers uniting and boycotting the race.

If you thought the list of cancelled F1 races gets shorter here on, it does not. The 70s to 80s, followed by the 80s to 90s, saw the most consecutive aborted races.

1970s to 1980s: Financial issues return, debutant tracks miss out, and more

If we briefly summed up this era, most of the cancellations were due to trackside havoc, geopolitical tension, and poor organisation. The Belgian Grand Prix was dropped from the 1971 campaign, as F1 failed to incorporate safety changes. Take a look at all the F1 races that we cancelled from the 70s to the 80s below:

• The Mexican Grand Prix (1971): In 1971, hometown F1 hero Pedro Rodriguez lost his life, leading to the race being withdrawn. Another reason was track invasion by spectators in 1970.
• The Dutch GP (1972): Cancelled due to safety concerns and lack of financial resources to make the necessary changes.
• The Canadian GP (1975): The race was not a part of the 1975 championship due to a disagreement over prize money between FOCA (Formula One Constructors Association) and the race organisers.
•  The Argentine GP (1976): The regional conflict between the government and the army led to the withdrawal of the race.
• Japanese GP (1978): The Japanese Grand Prix was initially moved from Fuji Speedway to Suzuka Circuit in 1978. The latter could not hold the race due to safety concerns and only hosted its first race in 1987.
• The Swedish GP (1979): A severe lack of funds and the deaths of two Swedish racing legends, Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson, led to the cancellation of the Swedish GP in 1979.

1980s to 1990s: The decade where Formula 1 chewed off more than it could bite

The 1980s to 1990s mark the era of Formula 1’s most chaotic race cancellation spree in its history. The 1980 campaign is the only F1 season which did not feature the three coveted circuits of Silverstone, Spa, and Monza. To dive deeper, let’s take a look at one of F1’s most chaotic series of race cancellations:

1. Mexican Grand Prix (1980): Cancelled because of delayed circuit renovations.
2. Swedish Grand Prix (1980): Called off due to the very reasons that led to its departure in 1979 — lack of funds and deaths of Swedish F1 drivers, Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson.
3. Caesars Palace Grand Prix (1980): The first-ever Caesars Palace GP (Las Vegas GP) was pushed further because of organisational delay.
4. The US Grand Prix (1981): Missed out on a place on the calendar due to economic constraints. The Grand Prix eventually took place at the Caesars Palace circuit.
5. Argentine Grand Prix (1982): Was dropped from the 1982 championship due to political conflict, lack of sponsors, and an F1 drivers’ strike.
6. Spanish Grand Prix (1982):  The Spanish race was added to the calendar once the organisers had cleared their debt. However, it was cancelled due to issues with the Jarama venue.
7.  Soviet and New York State races (1982): The Soviet Grand Prix and New York Grand Prix were cancelled due to the influence of the Cold War.
8.  Argentine GP (1983): Cancelled due to a war between Argentina and Great Britain.
9. Argentine GP (1984): The Argentine GP went through multiple cancellations over the years because of various reasons. The 1984 edition was cancelled as plans to race on a street circuit did not materialise.
10. The US Grand Prix (1984): Cancelled due to planning issues faced previously in 1981.
11. Hungarian Grand Prix (1984): Was called off because of organisational delays.

Multiple F1 races were cancelled in 1985 and 1986. Many races were recurrently dropped due to previously faced issues. Here are all the outings we saw abandoned over the two F1 seasons:

• Races cancelled in 1985: The Japanese, Spanish, and the US Grand Prix races were all cancelled due to the issues they had faced in the past. Other races to be dropped from the calendar that year were the Dallas, Hungarian, and Mexican Grand Prix races. The three listed latter events were cancelled due to extreme heat, being moved to a different circuit, and an earthquake, respectively.
• Races cancelled in 1986: The Argentine and Japanese Grand Prix races were called off due to recurring issues faced over the years. On the other hand, the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the list of withdrawn races as the organisers went bankrupt. The South African Grand Prix was also cancelled that year due to political boycotts.

We have now arrived at the last race cancellation of the decade, which is also one of the most fascinating ones. We are talking about the 1987 Canadian Grand Prix, which was called off due to a dispute between two local beer giants, Labatt and Molson. The two brands dragged the motorsport to the court to decide who gets to sponsor the Formula 1 race that year, and the verdict will humour you. The court decided Labatt could keep the rights to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, while Molson could have the rights for the Canadian Grand Prix, both referring to the very Grand Prix in question. Eventually, the two brands did not sponsor the season due to conflict, and the rest was history.

1990s to 2000s: Organisational blunders and delays pave the way for multiple cancelled F1 races

By now, we know that certain tracks kept showing up no matter what, simply because they faced too many delays and issues. The 90s to 00s saw multiple rounds being withdrawn or scrapped because of managerial or organisational problems. Races like the US GP (to be held at the Phoenix circuit), Austrian GP, and European GP were cancelled in 1992 due to the aforementioned reasons. The 1994 Argentine GP was yet again called off as the track led the list of most cancelled GPs over four decades up until now.

In the following years, the 1997 and 1998 Portuguese GPs were called off due to the very organisational problems faced by other tracks and races. What would have been the first Chinese GP back in 1999 was also withdrawn from the championship campaign yet again due to organisational delays. F1 made a brave attempt to add the Argentine GP as a replacement for the Chinese race in 1999, only for it to be cancelled again.

2000s to 2010: A decade of improvements and fewer race cancellations

Formula 1 finally got a break from back-to-back seasons of multiple race cancellations. The 2000s to 2010 era saw fewer race withdrawals, with only a handful in the years 2003, 2006, and 2009, followed by one in 2010. Here are all the races that were cancelled in the relatively new era of F1:

1. Belgian Grand Prix (2003): Cancelled over a tobacco advertising law dispute between Belgium and Formula 1.
2. Belgian Grand Prix (2006): The race was called off yet again, due to circuit repairs being undertaken in 2006.
3. Canadian Grand Prix (2009): The Canadian race was dropped due to financial contract issues.
4. French Grand Prix (2009): The French Government decided to pull back from supporting the grand prix financially.
5. Indian Grand Prix (2010): The first edition of the Indian Grand Prix was cancelled and pushed to 2011 due to organisational delays.

2010 to 2020: Multiple races dropped from the F1 calendar

Without any further ado, let’s get straight into which races were cancelled from 2010 to 2020 before the pandemic came knocking on our doors:

 

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1. Bahrain Grand Prix (2011): The Bahrain GP departed from the 2011 championship due to political unrest in the region.
2. Turkish Grand Prix (2012): Was scheduled and then cancelled due to disagreement during contract negotiations.
3. Russian Grand Prix (2013): Cancelled due to construction delays around the Sochi Circuit.
4. Grand Prix of America (2013-2016): The race that sat on the provisional calendar from 2013 to 2016 was never actually held because of disputes between F1 and the local government.
5. Indian Grand Prix (2014-16): The Indian Government and F1 got into a dispute over whether F1 falls under the entertainment or the sports segment, with the former imposing taxes on motorsport’s Indian outing.
6. Korean Grand Prix (2014-2016): The Korean GP was cancelled for three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016 due to contract disputes and high costs for the organisers.
7. German Grand Prix (2017): The German GP was cancelled as the promoters refused to pay a high hosting fee despite the defending WDC (Nico Rosberg) and WCC (Mercedes) winners being Germans.

2020 to 2026: COVID-19 disrupts the F1 calendar, rolls out the highest number of cancelled F1 races

Besides the Middle-Eastern war disrupting the calendar in 2026, this era saw F1 races being cancelled due to floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a similar conflict arising between Russia and Ukraine back in 2022.

In 2020, F1 had abandoned 13 rounds after the McLaren garage confirmed crew members had shown symptoms of the virus at the Australian GP. The following year, the management called off five races as the pandemic continued. Cut to 2023, and the motorsport had to call off the Imola GP due to extreme flooding in the region. Let us understand the exact timeline of events and take a look at all the races that were cancelled due to the pandemic, followed by other withdrawn races.

All the races that were cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic:

These races were later replaced by 17 other races in the rescheduled calendar that year. The following year, F1 cancelled the five races listed below as the pandemic continued to wreak havoc:

The 2022 and 2023 F1 campaigns witnessed the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, the only race to be cancelled due to COVID-19. Let us now take a look at all the other rounds that missed out on securing a spot in the championship seasons in their respective years:

1. Vietnamese Grand Prix (2021): One of the main organisers was arrested for corruption charges, which led to the race being called off.
2. Russian Grand Prix (2022-2025): The GP departed from the calendar due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
3. Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (2023): The Imola GP had to be called off due to extreme flooding in the region, which flooded parts of the circuit and the Formula 2 paddock.
4. Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races (2026): Cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East, leaving only two out of four races in the region on the 2026 F1 calendar.

Phew, we’ve now covered over 75 years of F1 race cancellations, and we bet you feel much better after knowing just how many were frequently called off in the past. Coming back to the 2026 F1 season, we still have two more races scheduled to take place in the Middle East towards the end of the campaign. Will Formula 1 return to the region this year, or will we get a few more additions to the cancellation list as the new Madrid GP also rushes through construction delays? We must wait and watch, but we do hope the conflict resolves soon and we get to watch all the upcoming races.

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