Bahrain and Saudi races set to be cancelled; Russell earns first career sprint pole

Next month’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 grands prix are set to be cancelled over the weekend due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Multiple sources told Reuters an announcement, seen within the sport as just a matter of time, was expected by Monday at the latest with a March 20 deadline looming for freight that has to be transported to Bahrain for logistical reasons.

Sky Sports television, which has the broadcasting rights in Britain where most of the 11 teams are based, said it understood the races would be called off by Sunday night.

US and Israeli attacks on Iran are continuing while Iranian drones and missiles have hit some Middle Eastern capitals including Bahrain’s Manama, where most team personnel would be staying in hotels.

Formula 1 is racing in China this weekend for the second round of the season after the opener in Australia last weekend.

Sources have indicated previously that neither Middle Eastern race is likely to be replaced or rescheduled, leaving April an empty month for the series and the championship reduced
to 22 rounds.

Bahrain was scheduled for April 12 with the Saudi race in Jeddah on April 19.

The Japanese Grand Prix, round three, is on March 29 with the next race then in Miami on May 3.

The loss of those two races could be a blow for Oscar Piastri, who started the 2025 season in sizzling fashion for McLaren by claiming pole in China before winning both the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain races as part of a breakout season for the star Australian.

The teams are prepared for an imminent announcement.

“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 after practice at the Shanghai circuit.

“Nobody’s going to compromise on anything that would put teams into an uncomfortable situation.”

There was no immediate comment from Liberty Media-owned Formula One or the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has already postponed what would have been its season-opener in Qatar on March 26-28, with the first race now scheduled for Italy’s Imola circuit on
April 19.

The Qatar round at the Lusail circuit outside Doha, which also hosts Formula 1 in November, has been rescheduled for October 24 as the penultimate round before the finale in Bahrain on November 7.

MotoGP is due to race in Qatar on April 12 with that round also likely to be cancelled.

Reuters

George Russell earns first career sprint pole

After winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last week in Melbourne, Mercedes driver George Russell qualified for the pole of Saturday’s Chinese Grand Prix sprint race in Shanghai.

Russell, atop the F1 driver standings with 25 points, finished the final qualifying lap in 1:31.520, edging teammate Kimi Antonelli, who finished second in sprint qualifying at 1:31.809.

It’s the first career sprint pole for Russell, 28, who has six career F1 wins and finished fourth in the driver standings last season.

Lando Norris qualified in third place for McLaren after opening his 2025 title defense with a fifth-place finish in the Australian Grand Prix. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, qualified in fifth, flanked by Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton (fourth) and Charles Leclerc (sixth).

The sprint race kicks off Saturday’s day of competition before qualifying for the Grand Prix is held later in the day ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix race.

Points for this season’s six sprint races are awarded to the top eight finishers, from eight points down to one.

Reuters