Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The races were scheduled for 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia, but the sport decided to call them off to prevent further freight being sent to the region.
In a statement, F1 said: 'It has been confirmed today that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.' The decision was made in consultation with the FIA and race promoters, with no substitute events planned for April.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described the cancellation as difficult but necessary. 'While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,' he said. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: 'The FIA will always place the safety and well being of our community and colleagues first.'
The Bahrain International Circuit is located just 20 miles from a US base that has been targeted by Iranian attacks. Some team freight remains stuck in Bahrain since pre-season testing, and there was no appetite to send more equipment that could become irretrievable. The season will now consist of 22 races, with a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May.
