The upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix tournaments, which were due to take place in April, are set to be cancelled, according to media reports.
A question mark has been hanging over both races ever since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli joint military operation against Iran was launched on February 28.
The conflict has brought chaos to the wider Gulf.
Iran has sent hundreds of missiles and drones towards U.S. military bases as well as oil and gas installations across the region, with civilian locations also taking direct strikes or being hit with debris from intercepts.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled from April 10 to 12, with Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Grand Prix due to take place from April 17 to 19.
Bahraini air defences have intercepted at more than 100 missiles and 180 drones since the start of the war, but there have been strikes, causing the deaths of two people and injuring another 50.
The France-based Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which owns and governs the Formula 1 races, is due to take an official decision this week, but sports outlets said on Friday that it was now common knowledge that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races would not go ahead.
The races will not be moved to other locations which means the next Formula 1 events will be the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and Miami Grand Prix on May 9.
Beyond the human cost and impact on its key economic sectors of energy, air travel and tourism, the Gulf’s burgeoning sports and entertainment scene is also taking a hit.
It is generally a quieter time in the region at the moment due to Ramadan, during which observant Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
The pace of life would normally pick up again with the Eid Al Fitr holidays from March 19, marking the end of Ramadan, but this usually festive is in now in doubt as the U.S.-Israel-Iran moves into its third week
Another casualty of has been the Doha Film Institute’s annual project and talent incubator event Qumra, which was to have hosted guests such as Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal in the Qatari capital next week, but has not been moved on online due to the ongoing Iran War.
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