The cancellation of two Middle Eastern rounds has left an unexpected and unusually long gap on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Formula 1 is entering an unplanned stretch of silence following the Japanese Grand Prix, after the FIA confirmed the cancellation of both the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
With both events scrapped, the entire month of April passes without a single race on the calendar — a four-week gap that few had anticipated when the season began. For teams, drivers, and fans alike, it is an unwelcome interruption at a moment when the championship battle is just beginning to take shape.
The next scheduled round is the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, set for May 1–3 in Florida, United States. From today, that means a 14-day wait before Formula 1 returns to action.
What happened at the Japanese GP?
The start of the Japanese Grand Prix was briefly delayed following a serious incident earlier in the weekend during the Porsche SuperCup. Once the lights went out, Oscar Piastri launched off the line brilliantly, moving ahead of both Mercedes drivers in the opening moments. McLaren immediately asserted themselves at the front, while Charles Leclerc wasted little time in passing both Russell and Antonelli to slot into second.
Although Antonelli dropped as far as sixth early on, he quickly found his rhythm and began working his way back through the order, passing Hamilton along the way. Verstappen, meanwhile, made a sharp start of his own, gaining two positions to run just behind the Racing Bull of Lindblad.
Two distinct groups formed at the head of the field in the early laps. Russell was engaged in a close fight with Piastri for the lead, while Leclerc headed a second group comprising Norris and Antonelli. The battles, though, were relatively contained — and when Russell briefly snatched the lead, Piastri responded on the main straight, using his power advantage to reclaim the position.
Verstappen continued to advance, eventually climbing to eighth, though he struggled to match the pace of those ahead. The first round of pit stops followed for Piastri, Leclerc, Norris, and Russell — the latter's timing proving costly. Then, on lap 22, a heavy accident involving Bearman triggered the Safety Car in Suzuka.
The Safety Car period proved decisive. Several drivers, including Verstappen, were able to make cheap stops and move up the order. Russell, who had just come in for his second stop, suffered the most — his victory ambitions effectively dashed as he dropped to third behind Antonelli and Piastri.
On the restart, Antonelli showed maturity beyond his years, perfectly judging his moment to maintain the lead as Russell surrendered another position to Hamilton behind him. Verstappen, unable to find a way past Gasly, eventually crossed the line eighth.
In the closing laps, Antonelli pulled clear of the pack and managed the race home with composure, securing the victory. Russell pushed hard for a podium place in the final stint but was unable to find a way past Leclerc, who defended with authority. The final order: Antonelli first, Piastri second, Leclerc third.