The upcoming Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are unlikely to go ahead this year due to ongoing conflict in the region, according to sources.
Sporting events in the region have been affected by US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. Earlier this month, matches in the West Zone of the AFC Champions League-Asia’s footballing equivalent of the UEFA Champions League-were postponed indefinitely as well. Sources have told NDTV that the F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for consecutive weekends in April, are unlikely to go ahead this season.
If F1 can’t race in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it would leave a five-week gap in the calendar, which teams could use to refine any changes. F1 is currently in China this week, where Mercedes’ George Russell dominated the day, clocking the fastest time in the only free practice at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The Briton also led a Mercedes 1-2 in the first Sprint Qualifying of the season later in the day. With teammate Kimi Antonelli qualifying second-0.289 seconds down-and no other team close, Mercedes is on target for another 1-2 finish in Saturday’s sprint, which is followed by qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Lando Norris was 0.621s adrift, a vast gap in F1 terms, placing third for McLaren. Only Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in fourth and Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri in fifth got within a second of Russell’s time.
Antonelli held on to second despite an investigation for impeding Norris during qualifying. He wasn’t penalized because Norris stated he wasn’t trying to set a “meaningful lap time” and therefore didn’t lose out.
Hamilton might be the biggest threat to the Mercedes pair because the Ferrari is quick off the line, which allowed teammate Charles Leclerc to jump into the lead in Australia last week before a strategy error ended his victory hopes. Russell suggested Mercedes have improved their sluggish starts, though.
Russell won the season-opening race at Melbourne’s Albert Park last week, ahead of 19-year-old teammate Antonelli.