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F1 Faces Five-Week April Gap After Gulf Cancellations as MotoGP Returns to Brazil With Acosta on Top

Analysts warn the lost Bahrain and Saudi rounds strip critical promoter income and stall teams’ data gathering.

Overview

  • MotoGP races at Goiania’s revamped Autódromo Ayrton Senna for the first time, 22 years after the series last visited Brazil, with longer Friday practices and heavy-rain concerns following this week’s flooding on the main straight.
  • Pedro Acosta arrives as championship leader on 32 points after Thailand and plays down expectations, while Marc Márquez highlights the genuine pace of Marco Bezzecchi and Acosta and leans on a strong record at debut venues; Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira starts his first home GP.
  • F1’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds are cancelled because of the Middle East war, creating a five‑week lull between Japan (Mar 27–29) and Miami (May 1–3) and extending knock‑ons to support series schedules.
  • Aston Martin boss Mike Krack says the pause offers factory time yet deprives Honda of vital track data to solve power‑unit architecture issues; Ferrari targets its first major upgrade for Miami, when the ADUO performance review begins on a six‑race cadence.
  • Toto Wolff downplays prospects of a RussellAntonelli feud at Mercedes, Lando Norris criticizes the 2026 rules as reducing driver influence, Haas touts fourth‑best race pace in China, and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto scored a point despite significant floor damage from contact.