{"id":510988,"date":"2026-03-01T03:35:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T03:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/510988\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T03:35:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T03:35:12","slug":"formula-one-bosses-closely-monitoring-middle-east-situation-ahead-of-australian-grand-prix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/510988\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula One bosses \u2018closely monitoring\u2019 Middle East situation ahead of Australian Grand Prix"},"content":{"rendered":"

Formula One<\/a> chiefs are among sports leaders \u201cclosely monitoring\u201d the conflict in the Middle East ahead of the season\u2019s opening grand prix in Australia next week and upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

Cricket and soccer organisations are also keeping a close eye on developments as missile strikes continued to rock the region on Saturday after US and Israeli forces attacked Iran, with Iranian retaliatory attacks reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Formula One\u2019s European-based teams were set to be heading to Melbourne for next weekend\u2019s season-opener via the Middle East, meaning an overhaul to their flights.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Next Sunday\u2019s race is expected to go ahead unaffected, but the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, the fourth and fifth rounds of the new campaign, are set for April 12 and 19.<\/p>\n

An F1 spokesperson said: \u201cOur next three races are in Australia, China and Japan and not in the Middle East \u2014 those races are not for a number of weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"F1F1 bosses are monitoring conflict in the Middle East ahead of the season-opening race in Melbourne. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Football\u2019s governing body FIFA also said on Saturday it was monitoring events just months before the start of \u200cWorld Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in June. Iran have qualified and are scheduled to play two matches in the US, in Los Angeles and Seattle.<\/p>\n

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom told the International Football Association Board\u2019s annual meeting in Cardiff: \u201cWe had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around \u200call issues around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to communicate as we always do with three host governments as we always do in any \u2060case. Everybody will be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

A cricket match between England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens, scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, has \u200cbeen cancelled, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe safety \u200cand security of \u200cour \u2060teams and staff is our top priority,\u201d the ECB said in a statement, adding that England women\u2019s planned trip to Abu \u200cDhabi next week had been delayed.<\/p>\n

Cricket\u2019s governing body (ICC), headquartered in Dubai, earlier said that they had activated contingency plans for their personnel, \u200cwho were scheduled to transit through Dubai for onward travel to their home countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would also urge fans who have travelled … to monitor closely and adhere to advisories being issued and consider all factors before undertaking any further international travel,\u201d an ICC spokesperson said \u2060in a statement.<\/p>\n

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