Will F1 race in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia?

ByDavid Mitchell
Will F1 race in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia?

The days pass and the war conflict, far from appeasing, intensifies. The F2 and F3 teams remain in Australia awaiting determination.

Formula 1 and the FIA ​​do not move from the initial speech, which pointed to constant monitoring of the situation to determine continuity in the calendar of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix. Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East continues and, in the last few hours, it intensified, with cross bombings and this week a Bahraini refinery was hit by an Iranian drone, leaving one dead and several injured. Exactly in a month the race should be held in Sakhir. These days, Bahrain’s airport is closed and the only contact to leave the kingdom is through a bridge that connects it with Saudi Arabia. If that crossing is attacked, Bahrain would be isolated.

One thing is clear: If the two April visits to the Middle East were finally cancelled, the Formula 1 agenda would drop from 24 dates to 22 because they will not be replaced with another scenario.. Category authorities are expected to make the decision next week. The organizers of the Jeddah street race would be putting pressure on F1 to keep the event on the calendar without modifications; however, Liberty Media is determined to make the same determination for both dates. That is, if Bahrain were cancelled, Saudi Arabia would also fall.

For now, Formula 2 and Formula 3 (they do not go to China) have three days of testing in Bahrain on the 25th, 26th and 27th of this month. The original program was to send the materials of the teams of the two categories directly from Melbourne to Bahrain, carry out the tests and then stay there for the competition. These days, the cars and all the support bands’ equipment are still in Australia awaiting definition. Carrying out tests is increasingly unlikely.

The complexity of logistics due to the war situation complicated the Chinese F1 event: Pirelli arrived late to Shanghai and the FIA ​​lifted the curfew on Wednesday night fore, only six mechanics could work with the tire assembly.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.