The attack carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran has inevitably raised concerns within the world’s leading two- and four-wheel motorsport championships, casting uncertainty over logistics, travel and upcoming race events.
Bombings on Iran (and beyond)
As the MotoGP World Championship begins to intensify this weekend in Thailand and with the start of the Formula 1 season on the horizon next weekend in Australia, the world woke up this morning to news of US and Israeli bombings targeting Iran, reportedly aimed at triggering a regime change in the country. Iran responded to the attack by launching missiles against Israel and against US military bases located in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
This escalation is understandably causing concern for the two premier global motorsport championships on both two and four wheels. The implications extend beyond teams and riders or drivers, involving engineers, technical staff, logistics crews and journalists who are directly connected to the paddocks. At present, the leadership of both championships is “monitoring the situation”.
The MotoGP situation
MotoGP is currently in the middle of its season-opening Grand Prix weekend. The Sprint race has already taken place, and the Thailand Grand Prix is scheduled for tomorrow. In this case, the primary concern revolves around whether the personnel currently in Buriram will be able to return home safely and without major disruption, given that the majority of paddock members typically fly with Qatar Airways or other Middle Eastern carriers.
It should be noted that the airspace over Iran is, of course, currently closed. However, this is not the only complication. Numerous airlines have suspended routes across the Middle East. Among the many carriers involved are Qatar Airways itself, Air France, Air India, British Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. Furthermore, Dubai International Airport — one of the busiest hubs in the world — has, at the time of writing, suspended all operations.
The Formula 1 situation
The situation is naturally being closely observed by Formula 1 as well, with the paddock preparing to travel to Australia for the opening round of the season. The closure of airspace in the United Arab Emirates — a crucial transit point for flights from Europe heading to Melbourne — represents a significant logistical challenge. But that is not the only issue under consideration.
In just over a month, in mid-April, the Formula 1 calendar is scheduled to move to Bahrain. Iranian missiles that landed in the country reportedly struck areas close to Juffair, a district located near US military bases. This area is typically frequented by Formula 1 personnel, particularly members of the international media. However, the situation remains fluid and constantly evolving. Formula 1 understandably wishes to avoid creating unnecessary panic or making premature announcements.
For now, the entire Formula 1 calendar appears to remain confirmed. Nevertheless, both F1 and MotoGP continue to closely monitor developments in the region, fully aware that any further escalation could have significant consequences for travel, logistics and the smooth running of the 2026 motorsport season.
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