F1 prepares to cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid Middle East conflict
Ever since the conflict broke out, there have been doubts about whether the races would go ahead.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are set to be cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The US and Israel’s joint missile strike on Iran last month immediately put the upcoming Middle Eastern events in doubt with an official announcement expected in the next 48 hours..
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GP cancelled
F1 remains scheduled to go to Bahrain for April 10-12 before Saudi Arabia a week later but both regions have been struck by Iran since the conflict began a few weeks ago.
As first reported by PlanetF1.com when the conflict began, both the FIA and Formula One Management have been monitoring the ongoing situation which has seen missile strikes across the region but reports now suggest the plug has been pulled with confirmation coming this weekend.
With conflict in the region having not abated, and freight from the Chinese Grand Prix due to travel by boat to Bahrain, a decision is now imminent.
It is not expected that the cancelled events will be replaced, as revealed by PlanetF1.com. It had been suggested alternate events could be introduced, and potentially a double-header at Suzuka.
However, it’s understood these are not considered viable options due to the human toll, and the lack of a persuasive financial model around them.
Should both events be cancelled – and the indication is that the pair are viewed by Formula One Management as a package deal – F1 will have a month gap from the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 to Miami on May 3.
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher and Mat Coch
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