Formula 1 drivers won’t start their engines in April following the decision to halt of its races scheduled to take place in the Middle East due to the ongoing war in Iran.
In a release on March 14, F1 and its governing body the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) confirmed the Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not proceed as planned.
This decision comes after the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale military strikes on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. The war, which began on Feb. 28, has now entered its 22nd day.
F1 was scheduled to race in Bahrain on April 12 and in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 19.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said in a press release that even though this was a difficult decision to make, it was “the right one at this stage considering the current situation.”
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us,” Domenicali said.
The league also said that its Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 ACADEMY rounds will not run during their allotted times either.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, also reiterated that message, saying safety is the utmost priority for the federation.
Sulayem also said the federation also continues to hope for a “swift return to stability in the region” and that he looks forward to returning to the races as they are “incredibly important to the ecosystem of [the organizations] racing season.”
Fan reactions
Reaction from race fans has poured in, with most of which them saying they felt this was going to happen at some point.
Pia Kadunc, a fan of the McLaren team from Grosuplje, Slovenia, expressed mixed emotions around the situation.
“Honestly, I just want the drivers and teams to be as safe as possible,” Kadunc said. “But I’m also a bit sad because the three month break just ended and now we’re going to have another one,” she said.
Kadunc also said that she also wasn’t happy about the decision because the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “gorgeous races.”
Kayah Wojcik, a fan of the league whose been following Ferrari for three years, also shared a similar message regarding the cancelled races.
“Even though I’m sad the races were cancelled for April and there will be no replacements, I understand the need to cancel them,” Wojcik said.
“I know me as well as many other fans wish there could’ve been alternative arrangements, but the situation in the Middle East spiralled so fast that there really was no way to properly prepare for two different races in different areas and countries,” she said.
The next time Formula 1 fans will see drivers take to the track is from May 1 - May 3 in Miami, Florida. The race is set for 4 p.m. at the Miami International Autodrome.
