Formula 1 cancels April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to war in the Middle East

Formula 1 races will be canceled due to the war in the Middle East, says BBC Hollie Adams/Reuters The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grands Prix will not be held in April due to the conflict in the Middle East, the category announced this Saturday (14). The announcement was already widely expected. The statement released by the category — owned by Liberty Media — and the regulatory body International Automobile Federation (FIA), in addition to local promoters, said that the races will not be replaced in next month’s calendar. 🗒️Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send to g1 Reuters sources said it is also unlikely that the tests will be rescheduled for later this year, due to logistical and weather issues, although the statement did not explicitly rule out this possibility. As a result, the calendar should be reduced from 24 to 22 races. “Although it was a difficult decision to make, it is unfortunately the right one at this time, considering the current situation in the Middle East,” said Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. See the videos trending on g1: See the videos trending on g1 The Sakhir Circuit desert circuit in Bahrain was due to host the fourth stage of the season on April 12, while the Jeddah Corniche Circuit street circuit in Saudi Arabia would host the race the following weekend. Both tests are carried out at night, under artificial lighting. Deadline for sending cargo was approaching The attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran continue, while Iranian drones and missiles hit Middle Eastern capitals, including Manama, in Bahrain, where members of the teams were reportedly staying. Airports in the region have been closed, including Manama, as Iran threatens to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz trade route. Bahrain is also home to the headquarters of the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The deadline for sending cargo from the race to Bahrain was March 20, according to sources with knowledge of the matter interviewed by Reuters. Currently, Formula 1 is competing in Shanghai, China, with Japan being the next destination on the calendar, on March 29th. After that, the next GP will be in Miami, in the United States, on May 3rd. The FIA ​​stated that although a number of alternative venues were considered, it was decided to leave the month of April race-free. The organization said the decision was taken in full consultation with Formula 1, local promoters and FIA member clubs. The Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds scheduled for races in the Middle East will also not take place. “The FIA ​​will always put the safety and well-being of our community and our colleagues first,” FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in a statement. “After careful consideration, we made this decision with this responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, security and a speedy return to stability in the region,” he added. “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are extremely important to our racing season ecosystem, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.” Countries pay high fees to host races The two races are large contributors to Formula 1’s financial balance sheet. The fees paid by Bahrain alone to host the race are estimated at around US$45 million per year, while those of Saudi Arabia are probably even higher. It is the second time that Bahrain has had its race — the country’s biggest annual sporting event — canceled. In 2011, the race was canceled due to protests and civil unrest in the Gulf kingdom. The Jeddah race was also thrown into doubt in 2022 after missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on an oil installation near the circuit. The grand prix was eventually held after the teams received safety guarantees and the drivers met for more than four hours to discuss the situation. Racing is also a relevant investor in the sport: Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, owns the champion McLaren team, while Saudi oil giant Aramco is a main sponsor of Aston Martin.

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