Formula 1 and the FIA are monitoring the situation as tensions flare in the Middle East.
Tensions have flared after a joint military operation between the United States and Israel targeted Iran, with retaliatory strikes spilling into nearby countries. One of those hit was Bahrain, which is set to host the fourth round of the F1 calendar in April and was the host of preseason testing just last week.
The state-run Bahrain News Agency confirmed that a service centre of the United States Navy's 5th fleet had been struck by a missile attack on Saturday, creating uncertainty over the round at the Bahrain International Circuit.Teams leave pre-season with valuable data and big expectations for their 2026 cars. We’re buzzing for lights out in Australia and can’t wait to welcome you to the Bahrain Grand Prix, April 10–12!Grand Prix on SI understands that the FIA is monitoring the situation closely, while a statement provided to Grand Prix on SI by an F1 spokesperson said: “Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan not in the Middle East - those races are not for a number of weeks.Pirelli, McLaren and Mercedes had all remained in Bahrain after preseason for a planned two-day tire test at the Bahrain International Circuit, where wet-weather running had been scheduled on an artificially wetted track. A Pirelli statement given to Grand Prix on SI confirmed that all personnel were safe, though the test had been cancelled on safety grounds. "The two days of development tests for wet-weather compounds scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain International Circuit have been cancelled for security reasons following the evolving international situation. "All Pirelli personnel currently in Manama are safe in their hotels. The company is working to ensure their safety and arrange their return to Italy and the UK as soon as possible."F1 was forced to deal with tensions in the region in 2022 when the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was run under a cloud. A missile strike on an Aramco oil depot near the Jeddah Corniche Circuit left a plume of smoke visible from the circuit during a Friday practice session, leading to serious safety concerns. Meetings held long into the night between drivers, the FIA, F1, and local dignitaries came to the conclusion that there was no security threat to the paddock, and racing continued anyway. F1 races in Australia, China and Japan to begin the 2026 season, giving time for those in charge to monitor the situation closely and make a call should tensions fail to de-escalate.Ewan is a motorsport journalist covering F1 for Grand Prix On SI. Having been educated at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, and subsequently graduating from university with a sports journalism degree, Ewan made a move into F1 in 2021. Ewan joins after a stint with Autosport as an editor, having written for a number of outlets including RacingNews365 and GPFans, during which time he has covered grand prix and car launches as an accredited member of the media.
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