Formula 1 has followed a delicate situation in recent days involving team members who were stranded in Bahrain following the escalation of tension in the Middle East. Mercedes and McLaren employees who were in the country finally managed to return home and landed this Tuesday night at Heathrow Airport in London, after days of uncertainty.
Read more F1 today: Bortoleto excites, Middle East pressures and Horner is on the agenda
Team members were in Bahrain to participate in a tire test organized by Pirelli last weekend. However, the program ended up being canceled at the last minute after unexpected attacks by Iran on the country, an episode that caused the closure of airspace and made the immediate departure of the delegations impossible.
With flights suspended, professionals from Mercedes, McLaren, and also Pirelli itself had to remain staying in their hotels while waiting for a logistical solution to leave the country. The situation caused apprehension in the Formula 1 paddock, especially because the 2026 season schedule already anticipates the opening of the championship next weekend.
According to information confirmed to F1MANIA.NET, everyone involved managed to leave Bahrain safely and arrived in the United Kingdom on Tuesday night. The return ends a waiting period that lasted several days and forced teams and organizers to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East.
Part of the Mercedes staff, however, will not remain in the United Kingdom for long. Team members who need to be at the Australian GP will travel directly to Melbourne. They are expected to arrive in the Australian city by Thursday night, ensuring the team’s presence at the start of the race weekend activities.
Read more F1: Hamilton opens up as he starts 20th season and sends a message to critics
Among the names involved in the operation was Nyck de Vries. The Dutch driver was set to represent McLaren in the Pirelli tire test that was eventually canceled. On the Mercedes side, Fred Vesti, the German team’s current third driver, was scheduled to participate in the activity.
The Dane also had plans to travel to Melbourne earlier this week, as the Australian Grand Prix officially opens the Formula 1 calendar. After the waiting period in Bahrain, Vesti also resumed his journey and is on his way to Australia.
Despite the solution found to remove the professionals from the country, the situation in the Middle East continues to raise doubts about the future of the next stages of the season. In just over a month, the calendar schedules the Bahrain GP, but it is still not clear if the race will be able to take place as originally planned.
Formula 1 is closely monitoring the developments of the regional crisis before making any final decision. If the security scenario remains uncertain, the category may evaluate alternatives to preserve the integrity of the teams, professionals, and the public.
Read more F1 seeks Plan Bs for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but options are limited
