--- title: "F1 Races in Bahrain and Saudi in Question Amid Middle East Conflict" date: "2026-03-02" modified: "2026-03-02" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/f1-races-in-bahrain-and-saudi-in-question-amid-middle-east-conflict" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # F1 Races in Bahrain and Saudi in Question Amid Middle East Conflict ![The flags of the Formula One (L), the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (C) and Saudi Arabia (R) wave ahead of the third practice session ahead of the 2022 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 26, 2022. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)]() *\ANDREJ ISAKOVIC VIA GETTY\* Let me say this first: It feels trivial to worry about the likelihood of a couple of [Formula 1]() races while missiles fly over the Middle East. That said, the F1 circus is a significant economic force involving thousands of people, and that's not counting the tens of thousands of fans who attend each race. So whenever a crisis of this magnitude occurs, reconsidering a sporting event is worth discussing. After the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran over the weekend, the entirety of the Middle East became engulfed in military conflict. As a result, the FIA must now face the possibility of altering the Formula 1 World Championship's schedule. According to Formula 1, the situation is being monitored: "Our next three races are in Australia, China, and Japan, and not in the Middle East -- those races are not for a number of weeks," an F1 spokesperson told *[ESPN]()*. "As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities." ![A view during the Formula 1 pre-season testing at Sakhir Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto)]() **Jakub Porzycki via Getty** FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took to [Instagram]() to share the following statement: "We are in close contact with our Member Clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly. Safety and well-being will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One World Championship. Our organisation is built on unity and shared purpose. That unity matters now more than ever." While these races may be weeks away, the effects are already being felt in that part of the world. Many F1 personnel, journalists, and fans traveling to Australia for the season-opening race were left without travel accommodations after all airlines canceled their routes through Middle Eastern airspace. People traveling from Europe were forced to head west, stop in the U.S., then continue over the Pacific toward Asia before reaching Australia. F1 heads to China and then Japan in March before continuing to the Middle East, but that only gives the FIA roughly five weeks between events, meaning they have only one to two weeks at most to make a timely decision regarding the future of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()