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Pirelli has cancelled a planned two-day wet tyre development test at the Bahrain International Circuit following military strikes in the region, as escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States begin to disrupt the international motorsport calendar.
The Italian tyre manufacturer had scheduled the test for February 28 and March 1 at the Sakhir facility, which had hosted Formula 1 pre-season testing just days earlier.
Mercedes and McLaren were set to participate in the sessions, during which the track surface would be artificially wetted with sprinklers to simulate wet-weather conditions. The test formed part of Pirelli’s ongoing development program for rain compounds ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The cancellation followed reports that Iranian forces struck a United States naval base in Bahrain on Saturday, prompting Pirelli to halt all operations at the circuit on safety grounds.
In a statement issued with Motorsport.com, Pirelli confirmed, "The two days of development tests for wet-weather compounds, scheduled at the Bahrain International Circuit, have been canceled for security reasons following the evolving international situation.”
The company added: “All Pirelli personnel currently in Manama are safe in their hotels. The company is working to ensure their safety and arrange their return to Italy and the UK as soon as possible.”
The disruption extends beyond the cancelled tyre test. The Middle East serves as a major transit hub for teams and personnel traveling from Europe to Australia, where the Formula 1 season is due to open in Melbourne.
Multiple countries in the region have closed their airspace in response to military developments, complicating travel plans for a significant portion of the F1 paddock. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, both of which handle high volumes of F1-related transit traffic, are among the affected locations.
The timing of the situation raises other questions for the sport's near-term schedule. Formula 1 is expected to race in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April, and both countries are currently subject to airspace restrictions. But for now, without a change in the race schedule, both races will be held as planned.
The cancellation of the Pirelli test marks one of the first concrete operational impacts of the current regional conflict on Formula 1. Whether it represents an isolated disruption or the beginning of broader logistical difficulties will depend on how the international situation develops in the coming days.
Pirelli has not yet confirmed whether the canceled test sessions will be rescheduled. The company’s wet tyre development program was already underway, and the Bahrain sessions were intended to advance that work ahead of the first competitive rounds of the season.
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