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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2026

F1's Gulf Cancellations: The Legal Issues That Matter More Than Force Majeure

Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
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Greenberg Traurig

Greenberg Traurig

Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 3,200 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States,...

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The recent announcement that Formula 1 has cancelled both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix - reducing the 2026 season to 22 races and leaving a five-week gap...

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Force Majeure and the Sequel Nobody Asked For - When two Grands Prix disappear overnight, the legal questions go well beyond checking your force majeure clause

[This article was originally published by LawInSport.com on April 8, 2026. Reprinted with permission.]

The recent announcement that Formula 1 has cancelled both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix - reducing the 2026 season to 22 races and leaving a five-week gap in the calendar between Japan and Miami - was not, in truth, a surprise. Both countries are among the Gulf states struck by Iran in retaliation for US-Israeli air strikes, and the writing had been on the wall for weeks. What was striking was the speed and scale of the commercial fallout. While fans of the sport may view this as a mere disruption to the racing calendar, the legal and commercial ripple effects are seen behind the scenes, far beyond the track. A Guggenheim Partners analyst note estimated the cancellations will cost the sport approximately $190 to

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