Formula 1 is preparing to remove two major races from the 2026 calendar as the escalating conflict involving Iran forces the sport to confront the reality of racing in an increasingly unstable region.

Several major international sporting events in the Middle East have been reshuffled as regional tensions linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran continue to impact the global sporting calendar.

The loss of the two races also means the midseason compression test will happen after five races, not seven.