BAHRAIN : Formula One is preparing to call off next month’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing war in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran. While a formal announcement has yet to be made, a decision is expected before the end of the weekend.

Logistical deadlines are fast approaching, with freight for the races due to begin shipping to the Middle East in the coming days. However, with no indication that the conflict will ease anytime soon, organisers believe proceeding with the events could put drivers, teams, and staff at significant risk.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled to take place on April 12, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah the following weekend. If the cancellation is confirmed, the Formula One calendar will be reduced to 22 races this season.

The move is also expected to carry a major financial impact for Formula One. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are among the highest-paying hosts on the calendar, and the cancellation of both events could result in a commercial loss exceeding £100 million.

Alternative venues were briefly considered, including Portimão in Portugal, Imola in Italy, and Istanbul Park in Turkey. However, organisers concluded that the timeframe was too short to successfully arrange replacement races or secure the necessary hosting agreements.

Should the cancellation go ahead, the F1 calendar will see an extended break of nearly five weeks between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.