F1 set to not replace Bahrain and Saudi races if cancelled

Formula 1 is set to not replace the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix if they are cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The races in Bahrain on April 10-12 and Saudi Arabia on April 17-19 are in serious doubt as both countries are among the Gulf states to have been struck by Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli air strikes amid the escalating conflict in the region this month.

Sky Sports News understands a decision on whether to cancel the two races will be made by March 20 at the latest and, should they not take place, the rounds would not be replaced.

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Portugal's Portimato and Italy's Imola circuits have been mooted as possible replacements but there would not be enough time to organise the events for April.

It means the F1 calendar would drop from 24 rounds to 22, leaving a five-week gap in the calendar between the third round of the season in Japan on March 27-29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3.

"First of all, our approach first of all is safety for all of the relevant stakeholders, people and the promoter itself," F1 president Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports F1.

"We don't want to do any statement today because things are evolving and we still have time to make the right decision. This decision will be taken together.

"So far, we want to keep quiet and calm and make sure we have the right time to make the right decision - as we did in the past."

Domenicali: Not been an easy week

This weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix has largely got under way unaffected by the Middle East conflict but there have been logistical challenges since several personnel were originally due to fly from Europe to Australia via the Gulf region.

Pirelli cancelled a tyre test in Bahrain last weekend which was set to involve McLaren and Mercedes, while curfew restrictions to stop teams working overnight have been scrapped in Melbourne as teams have been troubled by getting personnel and freight to Australia.

Domenicali said: "It has not been an easy week. When we saw the things happening, of course, we had people in Dubai and Bahrain for a Pirelli test which we had to cancel. We had people in Doha.

"We had a lot of flights booked through the Middle East, so it has been a very intense couple of days to reschedule everything with the help of the governments.

"We had a special programme to take all of the people in this region out, which was a challenge, therefore to be here is a great success.

"People sometimes believe it's just 30 or 40 people in a team. We have 3000 people who have to move around the world. It's a big beast."

Sky Sports F1's Australian GP schedule

Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Sprint*
1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30am)*
3.05am: F2 Sprint*
4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
7am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
9.45pm: F3 Feature Race*

Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Feature Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted's Notebook*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

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