Pirelli cancels Bahrain tyre test as US-Iran conflict develops
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Pirelli has cancelled its scheduled tyre test in Bahrain amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Italian tyre manufacturer was meant to conduct a wet tyre test at the Bahrain International Circuit with Mercedes and McLaren, but those plans are now cancelled.
That comes after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and retaliations from Iran landed in Bahrain as well. The country's airspace was closed this Saturday.
Photo: Pirelli
Pirelli shared in a statement: "The two days of development testing for the wet compounds scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain circuit have been cancelled for safety reasons, following the evolving international situation.
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"All Pirelli personnel currently in Manama are safe in their hotels. The company is working to ensure their continued safety and to arrange their return home as soon as possible."
GPblog has learned that Frederik Vesti was meant to drive for Mercedes. The team's employees are also safe, and they are working on getting them home or directly to Melbourne, this website understands. McLaren's test driver in Bahrain was meant to be Nyck de Vries.
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