Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the F1 calendar is on edge. In April, Grands Prix are scheduled to be held consecutively in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Both countries have been victims of war violence between the United States, Israel, and Iran in recent days. Soon there was talk of replacement Grands Prix at some European circuits. Reportedly, however, Formula 1 sees no possibility of organizing replacement races.
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The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are scheduled for the second and third weekends of April, respectively. Given the current situation in the Middle East – in which both Gulf states were hit by Iranian attacks in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes – the chance of the races being canceled seems real. The FIA and FOM say they are “monitoring the situation closely.” The drivers are also calling for patience and asking to wait for developments first.
No replacement Grands Prix?
Nevertheless, there has been plenty of speculation in recent days about possible replacement Grands Prix. The circuits of Portimão in Portugal and Imola in Italy could potentially step in. According to Sky Sports, however, there is too little time to move the fourth and fifth rounds of the championship to Europe. If the races in the Middle East do not go ahead, FOM would see no other option than to shorten the F1 calendar. That would mean a spring break of no less than five weeks.
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The British F1 broadcaster further reports that a decision on the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be made by March 20 at the latest. “First and foremost, the safety of everyone involved is paramount,” CEO Stefano Domenicali responded to the outlet. “We do not want to issue a statement today because the situation is still developing and we still have time to make the right decision together. For now, we want to remain calm and ensure that we take our time, as we have done in the past.”
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