F1's powers that be are "closely monitoring" ongoing events in the Middle East ahead of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

"Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan and not in the Middle East," said a spokesperson for F1 following today's events in Iran, "those races are not for a number of weeks.

"As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities," they added.

Ahead of next weekend's season opener, some members of the F1 'circus' have re-routed their flights, opting to avoid the Middle East, and while Iran is at the centre of events there has been fallout elsewhere in the region including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain.

A wet weather test due to take place in Bahrain today (Saturday) and tomorrow, involving Mercedes and McLaren, has been cancelled by Pirelli, after Iranian forces targeted a US naval base in the country.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by @R1Racing71, 13 hours ago

"Mallory Park Currently on Stand By!!!"

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2. Posted by mallat, 13 hours ago

"Look, the places ya'll want are just simply not profitable. Either by lacking attendance, or failing to match the ever-growing royalties, which the oil monarchies and illiberal hybrid-regimes (Azer, Hun) can supplement with state money. Even if the former parties can somehow get things together, the latter will just outbid them."

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3. Posted by BillH, 15 hours ago

"On a serious note, in New Zealand we have only two weeks fuel supply in reserves (our one privately owned refinery stopped refining oil a few years ago and is now a fuel depot) so if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't remain open, we could be in a sticky situation regarding things such as harvesting, transport, emergency hospital backup generation and so on.
Hopefully, cool heads prevail and things settle down somewhat.
Strategically, NZ may need to get that refinery back on line.
Just like F1, I too am monitoring the situation closely, not that there is much I can do about it other than make sure my cars are topped up.
When it closed we lost local bitumen and CO2 production which are handy byproducts of refining.

"

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 22 hours ago

"F1/FIA, Liberty.... get OUT of the middle east NOW."

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5. Posted by Batman, 01/03/2026 1:12

"@KKK Oh come on! How dare you forget the world’s most famous dog, the one who made it to two Olympics in a row without any qualifying stages? Snoop is the key to unlocking America’s chest of fortune for Liberty Media."

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6. Posted by Max Noble, 28/02/2026 23:59

"@KKK - Oh come on! As young Anakin Skywalker noted, “Now this is pod racing!” - Having the cars shot at each lap would surely make for great TV. I’m sure no one would get hurt…

Or we follow your idea and we have a brilliant 12 Miami race weekends in a row, followed by an equally brilliant 12 weekends of racing in Vegas! What’s not to love!? …with about the same chance of getting shot at each week…!

“Drive to Survive” has never been more literal….
"

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7. Posted by KKK, 28/02/2026 20:34

"Oh, come on Liberty Media, just cancel them all and have ALL the races in the States....well run, full of Cheer Leaders and plenty of Hot Dogs....Its what F1 is about !"

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F1 eyes events in the Middle East

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