The Bahrain Grand Prix set for April 10–12 and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah the following week could be canceled due to the war in the region.
Missiles reportedly have struck civilian infrastructure and U.S. bases, including the U.S. Navy base in Manama, Bahrain, in areas where Formula 1 personnel are staying. In addition, the Saudi race is held near an oil refinery that was previously attacked by the Houthis.
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The Formula 1 racing season could be shortened
(Photo: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Formula 1 said it is “closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with the authorities and prioritizes the safety of everyone involved in the sport.” However, only about two weeks remain to decide whether the races will take place because of the need to transport equipment.
Canceling the races would also cost organizers a great deal of money, as the payments from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amount to more than $100 million. The chances of rescheduling the races are low due to the crowded calendar. The assumption is that, if the races are canceled, the season would be shortened to 22 Grand Prix events.
Alternative options that have been discussed include Portimão (Portugal), Imola (Italy), Istanbul (Turkey) or an additional race in Japan, but these are considered unrealistic due to the difficulty of organizing the events on such short notice.