Australian driver Oscar Piastri is believed to be safe but a number of other Formula 1 staffers are scrambling to get out of the Middle East.
Organisers are closely monitoring the situation ahead of the F1 season beginning in Melbourne with next weekend’s grand prix.
Israel and America launched strikes on Iran on Saturday and then Iran launched retaliatory strikes. Surrounding nations are reportedly being impacted, including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
LIVE UPDATES: Follow all the action from NRL’s season opener in Las Vegas
READ MORE: ‘Amazing’ Bulldogs gesture for family after tragedy
READ MORE: ‘Brilliant to the end’: Tributes flow for Makybe Diva, dead at 26
On Sunday morning it emerged Dubai airport had been struck.
Bahrain has been hosting most of the F1 pre-season testing in recent weeks, with the teams and drivers converging on the gulf nation to test the cars.
Wide World of Sports understands Piastri has already left the Middle East and is in Melbourne preparing for his home grand prix next week.
Oscar Piastri of Mercedes. Â Getty
But 9News Melbourne reporter Selina Zhang says the F1 season opener remains under a cloud.
“A number of the F1 team are stuck in the Middle East trying to get here to Melbourne,” she told Today on Sunday.
“We understand some of the team are already here in Australia, but whether it means the grand prix is delayed, we’re yet to find out.”
The F1 season begins in Australia next weekend, then goes to China and Japan before heading to the Middle East for races in Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19).
“Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan and not in the Middle East – those races are not for a number of weeks,” an F1 spokesperson said Saturday, per The Associated Press.
“As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities.”
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli on Saturday announced the cancellation of its scheduled F1 tyre testing in Bahrain.
– with Reuters