Formula 1 ended days of speculation on Saturday, confirming that both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will not take place in April as planned, due to the ongoing celebration in the region.
When the United States and Israel began a series of airstrikes on Iran, speculation grew about both races, which were scheduled for April. The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12 and the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was scheduled for the following week. But hostilities in the area forced the cancellation of a Pirelli tire test that was scheduled for before the season, adding to speculation about those two races.
Now, F1 has made it official.
In the announcement, F1 noted that “after careful assessment, due to the current situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix will not take place in April.
“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions would be made in April.”
Both F1 president Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressed the issue.
“Although it was a difficult decision to make, it is unfortunately the right one at the moment considering the current situation in the Middle East. I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and complete understanding, as they were looking forward to welcoming us with their usual energy and passion. We can’t wait to get back to them as soon as circumstances allow us,” said Domenicali.
“The FIA will always prioritize the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues. After careful consideration, we have made this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, security and a rapid return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events,” said Ben Sulayem.
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow. My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision.”
This means that after the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29, there will be a five-week gap in the calendar until the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
