Sport|MotorsportsMotoGP postpones Qatar Grand Prix due to Middle East conflictThe Qatar GP, scheduled for April 10-12, has been rescheduled for November amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

The MotoGP governing body has announced the postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix, initially scheduled for April, due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. The event is now rescheduled to take place on November 8, 2026, at the Lusail International Circuit. This decision was made following extensive scenario planning and calendar analysis to ensure minimal disruption to the MotoGP schedule. Consequently, the Portuguese Grand Prix will now be held on November 22, and the season finale in Valencia is moved to November 29.

In other developments, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi currently leads the championship after the first round in Thailand. Upcoming races are scheduled in Brazil from March 20-22 and in the United States from March 27-29.

Formula One and the FIA have announced that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix events, originally planned for April, will not proceed due to safety concerns stemming from the current conflict in the Middle East. The decision was confirmed prior to the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

The Bahrain race was set for April 12, and the Saudi Arabian race in Jeddah was scheduled for April 19. Despite considering several alternatives, F1 decided against making substitutions for these races in April. Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1, emphasized the importance of safety and well-being for the community, a sentiment echoed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. While rescheduling options were not explicitly ruled out, the announcement did not specify any plans to cancel or postpone the events.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.