Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli has cancelled a planned two-day wet weather test at the Bahrain International Circuit due to escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision follows retaliatory missile strikes by Iran on US military bases in the region, including one near the circuit in Bahrain. All personnel are reported safe as F1 monitors the situation ahead of upcoming races.
On February 28, 2026, Pirelli announced the cancellation of its development testing for wet-weather compounds, originally scheduled for February 28 to March 1 at the Bahrain International Circuit. The test involved Mercedes and McLaren providing mule cars for artificially wetted track sessions to gather data on new tire compounds.
The cancellation stems from heightened tensions after a joint US-Israel offensive against Iran earlier that day, prompting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to launch missile and drone strikes on US installations in Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Verified footage showed a missile hitting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet command center in Manama, approximately 20 miles from the circuit and seven miles from Bahrain International Airport.
Iran's forces vowed to continue strikes "relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated," according to reports. US President Donald Trump described the initial operations as "major combat operations."
A Pirelli spokesperson stated: "The two days of development tests for wet-weather compounds, scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain International Circuit, have been cancelled for security reasons following the evolving international situation. 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 incident has disrupted travel plans for F1 teams heading to the season opener in Australia (March 6-8), with Middle East hubs like Dubai and Qatar closing airspace. Some personnel, including McLaren's Oscar Piastri, are already in Melbourne, but others face rerouting via Hong Kong or Singapore.
Formula 1 issued a statement: "Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan, not in the Middle East—those races are not for a number of weeks. As always, we closely monitor any situation like this and work closely with relevant authorities."
The Bahrain Grand Prix remains scheduled for April 12, followed by Saudi Arabia on April 19. Bahrain circuit organizers are in contact with F1. Past events, such as a 2022 Houthi missile near the Saudi circuit and a 2025 strike in Qatar, proceeded after safety assurances.
No immediate changes to the calendar have been announced, but the situation continues to evolve with closed airspaces and ongoing strikes.