Formula One set to cancel two races due to Iran conflict
Formula One is set to cancel two races this weekend due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Grands Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for April, will reportedly be called off, according to Sky News.
While the Bahrain race was set for 10-12 April, F1 was due to be in Saudi Arabia between 17-19 April.
According to the outlet, the races will be cancelled by Sunday and are not likely to be replaced, despite rumours that Portugal or Italy could be an option instead.
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It is reported that there is not enough time to organise the events within the time frame.
If the races are not replaced, there would be a five-week gap between the Japanese race at the end of March and the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May.
"I think we follow the guidance of the FIA and Formula One, as we always do. They’ve always led us in the right direction," Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley told reporters.
"Nobody’s going to compromise on anything that would put teams into an uncomfortable situation."
The sport is set to lose a pretty hefty sum from the cancellations - reportedly more than £100 million - with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia being two of the most lucrative races.
It is expected that once a cancellation is announced, the season will be made up of 22 instead of the expected 24 races.
According to the BBC, although a formal decision is yet to come, 'cancellation is inevitable with no let up in the war'.
Most recently, Donald Trump issued an ominous warning to Iran as the US announced it would be slamming the country with the 'highest volume of strikes' today (13 March).
America's military announced it is gearing up for the 'busiest' day in battle so far, while Israel said it would launch an 'extensive' wave of strikes on the capital of Tehran.
Trump has claimed that Iran is seriously on the back foot after being bombarded with missiles over the last few weeks - and on Friday, he eerily warned that more blood will be spilled in the coming hours.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise.
"Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.
"We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today."
Trump's post added: "They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honour it is to do so!"
Topics: Sport, Formula 1, Iran, World News, News
Lucy Devine