Formula One bosses have officially called off next month’s grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia owing to conflict in the Middle East.
The two rounds will not be replaced meaning there will be a hiatus in the calendar through the whole of April, following the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and before Miami on May 3.
The governing FIA confirmed: ‘The races will not take place. While several alternatives were considered, it was decided that no substitution will be made in April.
‘The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and member clubs in the region.’
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who made the decision alongside chief executive Stefano Domenicali, added: ‘The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first.’
Formula One were set to have a 3,000-strong travelling contingent to the races, with cars and other critical freight to the Gulf due to start their transportation in the middle of next week.
Formula One have officially cancelled races that were planned to take part in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this season
Explosions rock a Bahrain oil facility as Iranian missiles target energy infrastructure last week
Bahrain, pioneers of F1 in the region, pay up to £40million to host their event, while the Saudi GP is an even bigger contributor to the sport’s purse at some £60m a year – the most lucrative destination on the existing 24-race calendar, along with Qatar.
The Saudis also contribute their state-owned Aramco oil sponsorship, a partnership worth approximately £40m per season. That arrangement, it seems, will be unaffected by the cancellations.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said prior to the decision: ‘I know Stefano will do what is right for us and the sport. He is a great leader.’
Domenicali and Ben Sulayem are also drawing up contingencies for Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the concluding two rounds at the end of November and start of December that may be critical to the championship’s outcome.
‘Those races are a long way off,’ said one source within Formula One Management. ‘We have options but it is far too early to contemplate those events being pulled.’