F1 CEO assesses calendar peril during Middle East conflict

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted it could explore "all options" when it comes to solutions covering the upcoming Middle Eastern races.

The ongoing conflict in the region has placed major doubt on the ability of the Bahraini and Saudi Arabian races to go ahead next month.

Whilst alternate venues are being considered, there is a danger that the sport will not replace the two grands prix, should they be unable to go ahead.

With the Bahrain event just over one month away, Domenicali insisted it is too early to make such a call.

"Our approach, first of all, is safety for all the relevant stakeholders, the people and also the promoter itself," he told Sky F1.

"We don't want to do any statement today, because things are evolving, changing, we still have time to make the right decision.

"This decision will be taken together. We have an open option in place.

"Of course, it's all connected to the risks that are evolving, and we need to manage.

"All options could be open. At the right moment, we will make the decision involving everyone."

The attacks in Bahrain last weekend saw the cancellation of a Pirelli tyre test, forcing F1 to take action to safeguard its members who were present there as well as other regions of the Middle East.

It also caused travel chaos for the opening round in Australia this weekend, as a number of airports in the region are used for connecting flights to Melbourne.

"When we saw things happening, we had people in Dubai and in Bahrain for the Pirelli test that we had to cancel," Domenicali highlighted. "We had people in Doha.

"It was a very intense couple of days trying to reschedule everything. To be here is a great success.

"A football team, you have between 22 and 40 people. We have around 3,000 that has to move around the world.

"We have 900 tonnes of material that is flying, and more on the ships. So it's a big test."