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Formula 1 officially announced on Saturday evening the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix races scheduled for April, due to the security situation in the Middle East. No replacement races will be held on those dates.
After several days of discussions and consideration of various scenarios, Formula 1 has finally made its decision: the races in Bahrain and Jeddah will not take place as planned this spring.
In a statement, the series explained that it made this decision “after careful consideration” and taking into account the evolving situation in the region. The various options considered did not allow for these events to remain on the April calendar, and no replacement races will be held on those dates.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled to take place from April 10 to 12, and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from April 17 to 19.
This decision was made in consultation with the FIA and the promoters of both events.
Support series also affected
The cancellation does not affect Formula 1 alone. The Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy events scheduled for these weekends have also been canceled.
The early-season calendar is therefore lighter, with a gap of several weeks in the championship's initial schedule.
Domenicali: “A difficult but necessary decision”
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged the complexity of this decision.
“Although this decision was difficult to make, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage given the current situation in the Middle East.”
The Italian executive also made a point of thanking the local organizers for their cooperation. “I would like to thank the FIA as well as our wonderful promoters for their support and complete understanding. They were looking forward to welcoming us with their usual energy and passion. We look forward to seeing them again as soon as circumstances allow.”
FIA emphasizes safety
On the part of the International Federation, President Mohammed Ben Sulayem reiterated that safety remains the top priority. “The FIA will always put the safety and well-being of its community first. After careful consideration, we made this decision with that responsibility in mind. ”
The Emirati leader also expressed his hope that the situation in the region would stabilize quickly. “We continue to hope for a swift return to calm, safety, and stability. My thoughts are with all those affected by these recent events.”
Promoters support the decision
On the organizers' side, there is also full support for the decision.
Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, CEO of the Bahrain International Circuit, praised the cooperation between the various parties. “We fully support Formula 1's decision and are grateful to them, as well as to the FIA, for their unwavering support and partnership.”
In Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, acknowledged the fans' disappointment while understanding the circumstances. “Fans in the Kingdom were eagerly awaiting the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in April, but we understand the reasons behind this decision and remain in close collaboration with Formula 1.”
Despite these cancellations, Formula 1 emphasizes that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain key stops on the championship calendar and that the goal is to return to these destinations as soon as conditions allow.
