F1 Faces Calendar Chaos as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Races Cancelled Amid Conflict
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The ongoing conflict in Western Asia is having a ripple effect on the world of sports, with the Formula 1 (F1) calendar set to take a hit. Reports suggest that the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for April, are likely to be cancelled.
The decision is expected to be announced soon, with teams currently in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix. The cancellation would leave a significant gap in the middle of the calendar, with the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir set to host the race on April 12 and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia scheduled for April 19.
With the deadline for F1's decision looming, teams are set to begin transporting hardware to Bahrain as early as March 20. The logistics behind F1 are complex, and any late complications can scuttle a race. There has been no report on what F1 plans to do to replace these races.
The cancellation would mean that the month of April would be completely race-free, with the Japanese GP in Suzuka concluding the opening leg of the season on March 29 and the Miami GP on May 3 kicking off the busy summer months.
F1 may consider granting a venue two back-to-back races on consecutive weekends, similar to the Covid-affected 2020 season. However, with the calendar already set and high-profile drivers and team principals having mapped out their schedule, any massive changes to the calendar seem unlikely.
The season will conclude with two more races in the Middle East, the Qatar GP and Abu Dhabi GP in Yas Marina, scheduled for November. F1 higher-ups may wait for further updates regarding the tensions in the area before making a decision regarding the season-enders.
