F1 scraps Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - are other Middle East GPs safe?

Just ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Formula 1 confirmed what had already looked like a mere formality: the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix will no longer take place in April as originally scheduled, leaving a sizeable month-long gap in the calendar with no racing action.

The decision was, of course, driven by extreme caution in light of the events unfolding in the Middle East in recent weeks, with the safety of everyone involved in the paddock rightly and consciously placed above all else.

Over the years, Formula 1 has steadily expanded its presence in that region, with as many as four of the 24 Grands Prix on the calendar taking place there.

The outbreak of the conflict has unfortunately come at an unfortunate time, leaving only two races in the region for now — the Qatar Grand Prix in November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, which, as usual, will bring the season to a close.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones towards the United Arab Emirates. Many of the projectiles were intercepted by air defence systems, with the loud explosions heard in Dubai — located less than 150 kilometres from Abu Dhabi — often linked to those interceptions. In several instances, debris from destroyed missiles or drones fell into urban areas, causing limited damage and a number of casualties.

Qatar has been targeted more directly, with missiles and drones striking near Doha’s airport as well as several key energy infrastructures across the country.

For the time being, however, the considerable gap between now and the end of the season leaves little reason to expect immediate disruption to the remaining two races, meaning the prospect of the calendar being reduced to just 20 Grands Prix appears unlikely at this stage.

That said, Formula 1 continues to monitor developments in the region closely as the situation remains fluid. Any potential decisions will depend on how events evolve in the coming months, with further evaluations likely to take place later in the year should circumstances require it.

Early Sunday morning in Bahrain, it was confirmed that the scheduled Grands Prix will not take place in April. Notably, however, the official statement avoided describing the decision as a full cancellation.

The specific wording used in the press release appears deliberate. By refraining from officially calling off the races, Formula 1 and the FIA have technically left open the possibility of moving the events to a later point in the season.

In reality, though, the chances of the races being rescheduled this year currently appear very small.