– The war in the Middle East, which has been raging between Israel, the USA and Iran since Saturday, could also have an impact on Formula 1: After the planned Pirelli tire test already had to be canceled, there are currently still question marks behind the races in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19).
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However, a premature cancellation is currently not yet an issue. “Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan and not in the Middle East – these races won’t take place for a few weeks,” a Formula 1 spokesperson told BBC.
“As always, we are monitoring any situation like this closely and working closely with the relevant authorities.” Nevertheless, a scheduled staging of this year’s Formula 1 races in the Gulf region seems hardly imaginable at the current stage.
In response to the attacks by the USA and Israel on Saturday, Iran shelled a US Army airport, just 15 kilometers south of the race track, as well as a high-rise building in Manama. In recent days, there have also been missile and drone attacks on Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Australian GP: “Fans will not notice a difference”
Most countries in the Middle East have closed their airspace for the time being, affecting, among others, Dubai International Airport, a major hub for international passenger traffic, as well as Hamad International Airport in Doha (Qatar) and Abu Dhabi International Airport.
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Nevertheless, the war has no impact on the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, which is scheduled to take place this weekend. “The last 48 hours required some rebooking of flights,” confirmed Travis Auld, organizer of the Australian GP, to the BBC.
But the responsibility lies largely with Formula 1. “They take care of the teams, drivers and all the staff needed here to make this event possible. There are quite a lot of them,” said Auld. “To my knowledge, everything is now set, everyone will be here on time, and the fans will not notice a difference.”
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The start of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) is planned for March 28 in Qatar. Here, too, the organizers do not want to issue a premature cancellation for the time being, but will monitor the situation in the Gulf region closely and take appropriate measures in an emergency.
FIA President reacts to the Middle East conflict
FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem expressed great concern about the situation and called for unity amidst the geopolitical conflict. “As President of the FIA, my thoughts are with all those affected by the recent events in the Middle East,” bin Sulayem wrote on Instagram on Monday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand with the affected families and communities. In this time of uncertainty, we hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability. Dialogue and the protection of civilians must remain a priority.”
“We are in close contact with our member clubs, the championship organizers, the teams and colleagues on the ground, while we carefully and responsibly monitor developments,” the FIA President also stated.
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“Safety and well-being will guide our decisions as we assess the upcoming events of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One World Championship. Our organization is built on unity and shared purpose. This unity is now more important than ever.”
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