Bahrain F1 monitoring Middle East conflict as bahrain tyre test cancelled
Formula 1 says it is watching the conflict in the Middle East after Iran launched a wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes Saturday against United States military bases in countries that will host F1 races. Pirelli has cancelled a two-day wet tyre test at the Bahrain International Circuit and said all personnel in Manama are safe in their hotels.
Pirelli cancels wet test
Pirelli called off its two-day development test for wet compounds scheduled for February 28 to March 1 at the Bahrain International Circuit, citing safety reasons and the evolving international situation. The planned test was an unusual wet tyre session that would have used sprinklers and involved teams including Mercedes and McLaren ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
Statement on personnel safety
Pirelli said: "The two days of development testing for the wet compounds scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain circuit have been cancelled for safety reasons, following the evolving international situation. " The company added: "All Pirelli personnel currently in Manama are safe in their hotels. The company is working to ensure their continued safety and to arrange their return home as soon as possible. " A separate notice said the company was working to arrange returns to Italy and the UK as soon as possible.
Strike details and targets
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck U. S. military installations and several Gulf nations — including F1 host countries Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates — in response to a joint U. S. -Israel offensive launched earlier that day. The IRGC vowed the strikes will continue "relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated, " and an Iranian armed forces spokesman warned that any base used to facilitate the U. S. -Israeli offensive is a legitimate target. On Saturday, Iranian forces said they had struck a U. S. naval base in Bahrain.
Bahrain circuit and distances
One of the installations struck, U. S. Naval Forces Central Command, sits roughly 20 miles from the Bahrain circuit and about seven miles from the Bahrain International Airport. A spokesperson for the Bahrain International Circuit said the organizers are in close contact with F1 as the situation develops.
F1 schedule and travel impact
An F1 spokesperson acknowledged the situation and noted the championship remains in East Asia before returning to the Gulf. "Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan, not in the Middle East — those races are not for a number of weeks, " the statement said. "As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities. " The F1 season opens next week in Melbourne from March 6 to 8, with China following from March 13 to 15 and Japan from March 27 to 29.
The cancellation has also affected travel plans: the Middle East is often used as a layover from the UK before onward travel to Australia. That disruption could complicate logistics for teams and personnel travelling to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with some people due to travel through Abu Dhabi and Qatar — where airspace is currently closed.
Regional memory and wider implications
Observers recalled that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2022 was thrown into doubt mid-weekend after a Houthi missile struck an oil facility visible from the circuit, with drivers holding emergency discussions before ultimately agreeing to race. Bahrain had just hosted two weeks of F1 testing; journalists and paddock personnel who stayed in the Juffair area said that area has been subject to an attack, making the situation feel closer to those who had been in the country recently.
The tyre-test cancellation and the strikes have raised concerns about potential disruption to the start of F1’s 2026 season and have prompted teams, organisers and suppliers to review safety and logistics as they prepare for the upcoming rounds in the Gulf.
