The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix that were scheduled for next month are set to be cancelled as a result of the war in the Middle East.

A formal decision to call off the races has not yet been made but is expected before the end of the weekend.

Freight would need to start being shipped to the Middle East in the coming days. With no sign of the conflict between the US/Israel and Iran coming to a conclusion, holding the races would put personnel at too great a risk.

Neither event will be replaced, so the season will be cut to 22 grands prix and F1 take a commercial hit of more than £100m, given Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay two of the highest hosting fees.

The race in Bahrain was scheduled to be on 12 April with Jeddah the following weekend.

Consideration was given to holding events at Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy or Istanbul Park in Turkey.

But it was accepted that the time to organise a race at any of those locations was too short, and there was little chance of securing a hosting fee.

The decision will mean there is a five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and Miami on 3 May.

Analysis - this was inevitable

F1 had to make a decision in the next 48 hours or so with their pressing logistical deadlines. There is no formal announcement yet but cancellation is inevitable with no let-up in the war.

The Bahrain capital Manama has already been hit by missiles and Jeddah is also judged too risky to hold a major sporting event. Iranian-backed Houti rebels in Yemen hit an oil facility near the Jeddah track with missiles four years ago.

F1 looked at Portimao, Imola and Istanbul Park, all of which were used in the Covid-affected season in 2020, as replacements, but it was felt that the cons outweighed the pros for those options, so there will be a month gap in the season.

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are two of the biggest paying races so the sport as a whole will lose well over £100m - funds that get split between the teams and the commercial rights holder F1.

Each party will take a hit of several millions, depending on how the prize money is split.

But in the end the season will be 22 races rather than 24, and everything will carry on as normal after this new break. (BBC)

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