Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix scheduled for April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The races were set for 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia, but the sport decided to cancel them to prevent further freight being sent to the region.
In a statement, F1 said the decision was made after careful evaluation of the safety situation. The governing body confirmed that no substitute races will be held in April, and the supporting Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy rounds are also cancelled for their scheduled dates.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described the cancellation as a difficult but necessary decision. He thanked the FIA and promoters for their understanding, expressing hope to return to the region when circumstances allow. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasised that safety remains the top priority.
The Bahrain International Circuit is located only 20 miles from a US base that has been targeted by Iranian attacks. Some team freight is already stranded in Bahrain from pre-season testing, and there was no appetite to send more equipment that could become irretrievable.
The season is now set to feature 22 races, with a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May. Teams will use this period to develop their cars under the sport's new regulations.
