
Racing fans in the Middle East will have to wait for tensions in the Gulf to ease before the sound of motorsport returns as Formula One has cancelled two of its highly anticipated April races in the region. The Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 12 April and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix set for 19 April will not go ahead after rising security concerns forced the sport into one of its toughest decisions in recent years.
The move comes as tensions across the region, driven by the US-Israel-Iran war, continue to rise and raise fears about the safety of teams, staff and fans. The announcement followed two thrilling races earlier in the season, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.