Formula One's Pirelli wet tyre test in Bahrain has been cancelled following Iranian retaliatory strikes that hit the Bahraini capital Manama. The strikes came in the wake of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, escalating regional tensions.
With further strikes reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, uncertainty now surrounds the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, both scheduled for April. F1 bosses are adopting a wait-and-see approach, monitoring the situation closely and liaising with the governments of affected countries.
Should the races be axed, potential replacement venues include Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Le Castellet in France. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali previously described Imola as the "first reserve" track, stating: "If for any reason a venue were to fall through, we will return to Imola with our cars and our drivers."
Portimao last featured on the F1 calendar in 2021, while Le Castellet has not hosted a race since 2022. The list of circuits is not exhaustive, and no firm decision has been made regarding the Middle Eastern events.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: "We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly. Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events."
