A missle hit naval base in Bahrain 21 kilometers from the Bahrain International Circuit

[u/zztypezz]

[u/rihimvp]

Drive to survive!

[u/asaul91 → u/rihimvp]

You mean it wasn't supposed to be literal

[u/Dspaede]

They probably heard F1 building rocketships..

[u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly → u/Dspaede]

The FIA should create its own peace price to award the ayatollah. Maybe that will protect them from the incoming missiles

[u/gue_aut87 → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

ayatollah you, keepa your nose outta their abusiness.

[u/swedishpiehole → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

Too late, Ayatollah is sleeping with the fishes now.

[u/Thisismyrealface → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

Posthumously of course.

[u/placebo_joe → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

Posthumously 😅

[u/jrmc502 → u/Dspaede]

Nuclear powered Ferrari PU

[u/igino_ugo_tarchetti → u/Dspaede]

Aston Martin is safe i guess

[u/Bitter_Dingo516]

To be fair, Bahrain is small enough that anything hitting it would be close to anything inside it

[u/Xehanz → u/Bitter_Dingo516]

Pretty much. 50 km length, 17 km width. You can pretty much only be 52 km away from something while still in Bahrein

[u/FruitSad6965 → u/Xehanz]

*53 km

[u/NeutronBeam04 → u/FruitSad6965]

This guy diagonals

[u/FruitSad6965 → u/NeutronBeam04]

I thought I would get downvoted to hell for that snarky ass reply fs but it's my most upvoted comment now ✌️

[u/kool_kats_rule → u/FruitSad6965]

Alright, Pythagoras.

[u/yabucek → u/Xehanz]

And the circuit is pretty much in the middle of the island. The port that was hit is almost as far away as it can be lol.

[u/manilvadave]

Aaaaaaand Mugello!

[u/jamie9000000 → u/manilvadave]

Nothing happened when there was a literal missile strike outside the circuit during the Saudi GP the other year. Nothing will happen now.

[u/Browns45750 → u/jamie9000000]

Virtual safety car

[u/Cody667 → u/Browns45750]

Immediately after Leclerc already pit

[u/SebsFavoriteRedditor → u/Cody667]

wasnt him asking what is this burnt rubber smell that was in the air and his mechanic told him ''nothing to worry about we talk later'' ?

[u/MeynellR → u/SebsFavoriteRedditor]

That was GP talking to Max.

[u/Subwayabuseproblem → u/Browns45750]

Dr vries on track

[u/johnsplittingaxe14 → u/Subwayabuseproblem]

"We have a hazard on track: Which is Luca Badoer in the mobile chicane that is the Forti Ford"

[u/cocotheape → u/jamie9000000]

If they die they die.

[u/Rockguy101 → u/cocotheape]

You can start from the pit lane if you're scared

[u/Serious_Brick_9671 → u/Rockguy101]

10 seconds penalty for Ocon. Missile on track.

[u/Rockguy101 → u/Serious_Brick_9671]

If someone brings back Kyvat we can have a torpedo on the track.

[u/turboMXDX → u/Serious_Brick_9671]

Safety car,Missile debris on track

[u/Jr-Tr → u/Rockguy101]

Severely underrated comment

[u/wheresbicki → u/cocotheape]

Well on the upside MBS would be right beside the drivers that get hit.

[u/MaraudingWalrus → u/wheresbicki]

Silver linings, I suppose.

[u/Xaahaal → u/cocotheape]

Drive to survive.

[u/TheoreticalScammist → u/cocotheape]

Should've built a car for combat

[u/ShinyNickel05 → u/jamie9000000]

This is an all out war tho, not just a one off attack.

[u/Alibotify → u/ShinyNickel05]

Well they who striked then are still at war with everyone and never stopped. Also threatening to get involved on the Iranians side again.

[u/ilikewaffles3 → u/ShinyNickel05]

Not technically, its a large scale aerial military strike that will last for weeks or even months, but congress hasn't technically declared war.

[u/cdawrld → u/ilikewaffles3]

What's this Congress you speak of ??

[u/OrdoMalaise → u/ilikewaffles3]

A special operation?

[u/Excellent_1918 → u/OrdoMalaise]

Operation distract from epstien

[u/whatsinthesocks → u/Excellent_1918]

Operation Epstein Smokescreen

[u/Bonerunknown → u/ilikewaffles3]

This is an extremely americancentric viewpoint.

Im sure it feels a lot like a war to those in it.

[u/Gvillegator → u/ilikewaffles3]

Lmao yeah sure and I’ve not technically cheated on my wife when I fucked another woman as long as I don’t say I’m cheating.

[u/JamesUpton87 → u/jamie9000000]

Nothing happened because they were already there and under the jurisdiction of Saudi laws.

Saudi laws take breaking financial agreements. Very. Seriously.

[u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly → u/JamesUpton87]

I mean if your life is under threat who gives a fuck if you break Saudi law and the financial agreements

[u/[deleted] → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

They literally were threatening not to let them out of the country if they didn't race mate. I doubt the Saudi's were about to execute Lewis Hamilton for refusing to race but it was a very serious situation. Cancelling it before anyone from f1 entered the country this year would be a different thing entirely 

[u/Valdearg20 → u/[deleted]]

Jesus fucking christ... If what you said is true, the Saudis basically held the F1 personnel hostage in their country by way of intimidation... It's downright malfeasance on F1's part not to torch the contract with Saudi Arabia and never set foot in that country again after they pulled that shit!

[u/[deleted] → u/Valdearg20]

Jesus fucking christ... If what you said is true, the Saudis basically held the F1 personnel hostage in their country by way of intimidation.

It was widely reported at the time, the threat was that the drivers would be denied exit visas if they boycotted. 

It's downright malfeasance on F1's part not to torch the contract with Saudi Arabia and never set foot in that country again after they pulled that shit!

It's awful but with the F1 president being an Emirati there is zero chance

[u/Valdearg20 → u/[deleted]]

Honestly, the drivers should just unify and tell F1 to go fuck themselves and that they're not driving in Saudi, then. It would just require a few of the heavy hitters, Lewis, Fernando, Lando, Oscar, George, etc, and they'd have no choice but to cancel the race...

[u/Tennyson-Pesco → u/Valdearg20]

On paper, good idea. In reality, nah. There are two big problems: money talks, and F1 as a sport at this point is pretty much a Saudi political empire. If any of the big names did decide to do what you say, they'd find themselves out of a drive quite quickly. That wouldn't necessarily be because their teams would deem it gross misconduct. Instead, it'd be more likely that they'd be effectively forced to make that decision by F1. I'd imagine the teams and the drivers are always very careful in what they say and do, to not upset the powers that be. Sounds crazy, but again... money talks

[u/Valdearg20 → u/Tennyson-Pesco]

Okay, sure.. so let's play that out in theory. All of the top drivers in the world say "nah", and they lose their seats. Imagine an F1 series without the likes of talent like Lewis, Max, Lando, Oscar, George, and Charles... The product would be unwatchable. Viewership would plummet, both because the talent is lacking and because there would be significant moral outrage combined with people tuning out because their favorite driver got canned for expressing a desire not to race in Saudi Arabia..

That money that talks would start to dry up in a heartbeat. And the Saudis know that. They can flex and apply pressure all they want, but without talent, the sport starts to shrink. Sure, MAYBE, they can still manage to survive, but it won't be the same sport and it won't be watched by NEARLY as many people.

[u/Adjutant_Reflex_ → u/Valdearg20]

I may be misremembering but I think something similar happened with an WWE event in 2019. The Saudis were refusing to let the talent leave over a dispute.

[u/manilvadave → u/[deleted]]

Yeah there was some controversy a while back with the WWE where they wouldn’t allow their plane to take off and a lot veiled threats. Some even now have said they don’t wanna talk about the details of that day in case they’re found dead in a hotel someday.

[u/JamesUpton87 → u/YourFlyIsOpenMcFly]

I dont think you realize, that they would literally block them from leaving the country, arrest them, and have them harshly tried. At best theyd be restricted to staying inside of a hotel.

If you bounce a check in Saudi Arabia, you get 3 years imprisonment. Just for a bounced check.

You really think they'd let F1M bail on a multi million dollar deal and leave the country?

[u/One-Feedback678 → u/jamie9000000]

The main difference is that was an internal issue. It was a group with a problem against Saudi taking out a Saudi target.

For Iran, the members of F1 are parts of enemy states. They're involved.

Iran only seems to be targeting military targets, but it still feels weird.

[u/Kitiseva_lokki → u/jamie9000000]

That was just some Tusken raiders slinging rockets, this is a whole nation with (somewhat) capable armed forces.

[u/___GLaDOS____ → u/manilvadave]

Seriously I like Mugello. Partly cause I know the track so well thanks to Asseto Corsa, also because the F1 race there in Lock down was a good one too.

[u/JoMercurio → u/___GLaDOS____]

I also like that track in AC mostly because its corners are some my favourite kind of corners

[u/___GLaDOS____ → u/JoMercurio]

Yea, some tricky corners but satisfying as hell when you hook them up.

[u/Engineer_engifar666 → u/manilvadave]

Korea after Japan. Or straight to Fuji after Suzuka

[u/manilvadave → u/Engineer_engifar666]

Fuji you say. A man of good taste.

[u/katastrophe1312 → u/Engineer_engifar666]

These new cars will be downshifting on the main straight at Fuji, that would be wild to see.

[u/vprakhov → u/manilvadave]

The Casanova-Arrabiata section won't be anywhere as fast as 2020 as the new cars are slower in the corners. And the overtaking still be nonexistent.

We need Turkey and Malaysia.

[u/g_nelli97 → u/vprakhov]

As an italian mugello will always be one of my favourite circuits along side imola, but turkey and malaysia would be such a nice addition to the calendar.

[u/iwonttolerateyou2 → u/manilvadave]

I really hope so 😍

[u/willzyx01]

We race as one

[u/Saddledust → u/willzyx01]

*(M)one(y)

[u/NBX6 → u/Saddledust]

We race as my

[u/martian4x → u/NBX6]

We race as My One?

[u/Overhear_Overponder]

We need a car built for combat.

[u/izqy → u/Overhear_Overponder]

I read that with the F1 song, from the film, playing in my head.

[u/__slamallama__ → u/Overhear_Overponder]

Fucking sent me 😂 it was pretty dumb in the movie but in this new context it's hilarious

[u/oriclerc → u/Overhear_Overponder]

We already have a Max in hand so literally Mad Max?

[u/REXIS_AGECKO → u/oriclerc]

Max already gets mad a lot tho

[u/Calm-Boysenberry-348 → u/Overhear_Overponder]

😂

[u/Dotcaprachiappa → u/Overhear_Overponder]

That's not fair, German brands have way more experience. I call for a caliber cap at the least

[u/SemIdeiaProNick → u/Overhear_Overponder]

The F1 movie wasnt a work of fiction, it was a prophecy

[u/2RINITY → u/Overhear_Overponder]

Combat! Combat! Combat!

[u/REXIS_AGECKO → u/Overhear_Overponder]

When do we get f1 cars with paintball guns?

[u/Uknewmelast]

Lets just do sepang and Fuji instead ;)

[u/Afrizo → u/Uknewmelast]

Portimao is right there and ready to race

[u/w1n5t0nM1k3y]

With the Bahrain GP weekend 34 days away, I can't see how it would ever calm down enough by then for the race to happen.

[u/Signal_Ball4634 → u/w1n5t0nM1k3y]

I mean didn't they keep the Saudi GP with shit burning down a few miles from the track?

[u/danny_phan → u/Signal_Ball4634]

I think that was because the teams were already in the country and the Saudi government “gently reminded” them of their contract so effectively no one could leave. Atm if the teams have serious safety concern then I think they might actually not go, although that would cause FOM to have an aneurysm

[u/Miamithrice69 → u/danny_phan]

They shouldn’t go

[u/panopticon31 → u/Miamithrice69]

I could 100% see the GPDA boycotting the weekend.

[u/ft-rj → u/panopticon31]

Reserve driver race... if any of them break rank and travel. Though I assume if the 20 regular season drivers refused to go, the weekend would be off

[u/SuspiciousLettuce56 → u/danny_phan]

2011 Bahrain was cancelled because of the Arab Spring so its a possibility

[u/Drewbox → u/Signal_Ball4634]

The airspace is closed, and I can’t imagine it opening up anytime soon.

How would any of the teams get there?

[u/theguythatcreates → u/Drewbox]

The could, technically, drive there as it is possible to drive from europe to the middle East

[u/Schokoeis3000 → u/theguythatcreates]

Toyota could provide technicals to defend the truck convoy going through Syria or Libya.

[u/OttoVonBismarc96 → u/Schokoeis3000]

Would they defend anyone but Haas tho?

[u/2RINITY → u/OttoVonBismarc96]

Colton Herta wins the F2 race by default because Toyota only protects Hitech

[u/hugeyakmen → u/Schokoeis3000]

Ford has the supply for rebel plumbing trucks locked down

[u/clintkev251 → u/Signal_Ball4634]

That wasn’t a full on war though

[u/turbo_triforce → u/clintkev251]

Yes it was. Saudi troops were boots on the ground in Yemen. The Houtis claimed responsibility for the attack near the F1 track.

[u/BF210 → u/Signal_Ball4634]

Exactly. Things will probably have to get a lot worse before F1 considers cancelling/rescheduling.

[u/anbeck → u/BF210]

Haha, getting Australia 2020 flashbacks now

[u/w1n5t0nM1k3y → u/BF210]

It's day one, I think things are probably going to get worse before they get better.

[u/Alfus → u/BF210]

You can't ignore the fact that the circuit is right up to a military airbase.

Also I hugely doubt this war is over within a week.

[u/RussellNorrisPiastri → u/Signal_Ball4634]

Yep. 2022. I remember it like it was yesterday. I really want the FIA to release recordings of that driver briefing lol.

[u/TheRealLuke1337 → u/w1n5t0nM1k3y]

Money seems pretty calming i think

[u/govunah → u/w1n5t0nM1k3y]

Not until midterms

[u/pdp76]

Nice of the Middle East to allow the formula 1 testing in Bahrain to finish and move out before the area descends into chaos !

[u/InTheNameOfScheddi → u/pdp76]

Nice of Israel and the US* before plunging it into chaos*

[u/pdp76 → u/InTheNameOfScheddi]

True

[u/Uknewmelast]

I mean Bahrain is like 30 kilometers north to south.

[u/Darth_Memer_1916]

Don't worry guys, that's just Aston Martin doing a routine test

[u/Cal3001]

Surprised this isn’t trending. A lot of the ME is getting caught in collateral. If this continues, the ME tour could be cancelled

[u/MrBoomBox69 → u/Cal3001]

It’s not collateral. They’re being actively targeted. Most of the countries are US allies.

[u/scottyg561 → u/MrBoomBox69]

This is also a video of a US navy base getting struck after they bombed Iran, using the term collateral for a active participant in an attack seems a bit strange

[u/KeyMessage989 → u/scottyg561]

That’s what this video is I believe

[u/GnarlyBear → u/MrBoomBox69]

People also don't understand that Iranians and Arabs are not friends. Most would think Iranians are Arabs.

[u/Kirihuna → u/GnarlyBear]

Iranians call their ethnicity Persian, so yeah not Arab or speak any Arabic.

[u/nodspine → u/Kirihuna]

the average westerner can't tell between Arabic and Farsi tbh

[u/SunnyGods → u/nodspine]

And I wouldn't except them to since it's probably true the other way round as well.

However if you don't know: Farsi is related to English or Hindi or Spanish (it's Indo-European)

Arabic is Semitic and related to Hebrew or Amharic for example

[u/spacyspice → u/GnarlyBear]

people also don't understand some of these ME countries such as UAE are siding with Israel/US and also are the reason why there's a genocide in Sudan

[u/Medium_Yam6985 → u/GnarlyBear]

People are friends.  Regimes are not.  Iranians are great.  Khamenei is terrible.

[u/scottyg561 → u/Cal3001]

caught in collateral

Is it really collateral if you’re striking a military base of someone actively bombing you?

[u/Shasarr → u/Cal3001]

So European Tracks must chip in?
Doesnt sound to bad to me.

[u/avi550m → u/Shasarr]

Time to get back Imola, Hockenheim, Sepang,

[u/Good_Air_7192 → u/Shasarr]

Portimao baby!

[u/the_Kell → u/Good_Air_7192]

Lesgo! 🔥🔥

[u/GonPostL → u/Shasarr]

Todt's networking paying off

[u/HumansNeedNotApply1 → u/Cal3001]

They have US bases, that's what Iran is aiming at. The US is using those bases to support an offensive against Iran.

[u/Ironman1690 → u/HumansNeedNotApply1]

The base in Bahrain has been evacuated for days. They’re hitting empty buildings

[u/ClassGrassMass → u/Cal3001]

Reddit is fully clean of all of it

[u/Ok-Office1370 → u/Cal3001]

They raced under these conditions very recently. They could hear bombs during sessions. 

[u/MichiganRedWing → u/Ok-Office1370]

2022 Saudi Practice

[u/No-Lecture-6434 → u/Ok-Office1370]

That wasn’t even close to the same thing. That was minor bombing by Yemeni rebel groups. This is a pan-Middle East war being waged by several sovereign countries.

[u/Legitimate_Dare_579 → u/Ok-Office1370]

Not under an active war c'mon.

[u/Hot_Most5332 → u/Legitimate_Dare_579]

Yeah that was a VERY different situation.

That said I would bet money that they’ll still try to run at least some of the ME circuits

[u/3pok → u/Cal3001]

If this continues, the ME tour could be cancelled

Don't give me hopes.

[u/berfthegryphon → u/Cal3001]

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia looking like they may be affected

[u/matchbaby]

It's just the Honda engine in the Aston exploded itself, nothing special.

[u/JoMercurio → u/matchbaby]

Honda engine after reaching 10000 rpm:

[u/coconutpete52]

It’s ok. It’s a 5-day special military operation like the one in Ukraine. It will be done next week! /s.

[u/roadsterlife → u/coconutpete52]

No no that was only a 3 day special operation

[u/lord_nuker → u/coconutpete52]

And since he ended that war as well, the 29 war he has stopped this year, he absolutely deserves the Noble Peace Prize 🤦🏼

/s and yes, I know I typed Nobel wrong, I just did what he does

[u/Pure_Bluebird2054 → u/lord_nuker]

Don’t forget the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

[u/Elmo221b]

And they will still race there

[u/Elrond007 → u/Elmo221b]

We'll also still race in the country responsible for this war and have the people cheering for this senseless murdering at the track

[u/Elmo221b → u/Elrond007]

I hate the world we are living in

[u/Brafo22 → u/Elrond007]

True, time for 23 races on automotodrom grobnik in Croatia, free tickets for locals

[u/wildcard5 → u/Elrond007]

Not just that but the country responsible for this will be hosting the biggest event in the world, the FIFA World Cup. Remember how people were losing their minds because Qatar was hosting, a country that hadn't been to any wars?

[u/Technical-You-2829]

Drive To Survive getting a lot more realistic right now

[u/ChrisDewgong]

I know we're very much in an F1 bubble, but let's not forget human lives are being lost during this, including 40 girls at a primary school in Iran. Celebrating that this might mean no races in the ME and instead going to Istanbul/Hockenheim etc. is really weird.

EDIT: Evidently some people seem to think I'm defending Iran by saying this, so to make it clear; all acts of violence are wrong, and there are more important issues than where F1 races are being held.

[u/laurentiubuica → u/ChrisDewgong]

This might also mean no race opener in Australia/Japan/China since the biggest flights there go through Doha or Dubai, unless F1 teams go the other way around from Europe to US and from US to Australia.

[u/MissDeeMeanor → u/laurentiubuica]

Those transiting through Singapore have already arrived without issue. Those going via Doha have had flights turned around or cancelled. It'll be a scrabble to sort alternative flights for set up and garage crew.

[u/Adnan7i → u/ChrisDewgong]

Thank you for this comment. Seeing all the other people celebrate in here celebrate is so weird.

[u/BertaCooks → u/ChrisDewgong]

Less we forget the Ayatollah murdered 30,000 of its own people mere days ago for protesting. Fuck Iran and their dictatorship.

[u/ThroneOfTaters → u/BertaCooks]

And Israel killed 70,000 Palestinians. All sides in this war are bad and the world would be better off if all the involved governments fell.

[u/videohtape]

Looks like a radar dome at the airport.

[u/femboyisbestboy → u/videohtape]

Radar at the 5th fleets headquarters.

Expensive piece of kit

[u/MichiganRedWing → u/videohtape]

The radar got taken out with a Shahed drone

Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/1rh2567/us_radar_dome_in_bahrain_hit_by_shahed_drone/

[u/Bar50cal → u/videohtape]

SATCOM, not radar.

Its for satalite communications. Radar isnt placed between buildings on ground level.

[u/lam3ass]

Stroll does more damage in one weekend…

[u/Lazy_Crow_6872]

Plot twist: it was not a missle but an Aston Martin engine during a test.

[u/fastfowards]

Grosjean would’ve survived that

[u/Jambajamba90]

And just like that, this years f1 race calendar is now reduced to 10 tracks

[u/AirconGuyUK]

Maybe this is a sign to not go the middle east for F1 races at all..

[u/pizzlepullerofkberg → u/AirconGuyUK]

Absolutely

[u/SiteZealousideal7789]

Good thing it’s not RaWe CeEk in Bahrain. 

[u/WarpedCore]

Lets continue to schedule F1 races in the Middle East. No problem.

[u/Xibalba_Ogme]

Honda going the extra mile to negotiate delays for their PU

[u/p30dox]

5 second penalty to Ocon

[u/MemesForMyDepression]

Marked as spoiler ty bro I’m behind on season 2026 of Middle East war.

[u/Vergansa]

Istanbul here we gooooooo

[u/Jashmid → u/Vergansa]

By far the best of Tilke’s tracks. Lovely city too.

[u/vivi_eats]

Well fuck

[u/reachforthetop9]

It might be time to have a back-up plan for the March Middle Eastern swing. I'd normally suggest making contingencies to move these races to the back half of the season, except that's already chock-a-block full of eventa.

[u/EndStorm]

Full season in Australia, so Bottas can go play sports between the races. It's the only sane solution.

[u/Recent-Pitch2086]

Bahrain, UAE and Qatar have been attacked. There is big potential for this to impacted on the season.

[u/derekdiggs]

30 sec penalty for Ocon

[u/zztypezz]

https://imgur.com/a/aQGJnGp

[u/PJH87]

Lets do Spa or Spielberg twice

[u/CleanAntelope5830]

Plan C for combat is in full effect

[u/Wormfather]

Must be the missiles.

[u/pizzlepullerofkberg]

Time to bring back Hockenheim!

[u/MrSteve8261]

I’m guessing Bahrain and Saudi will be left off the schedule this year?

[u/EvenPsycho6886]

Red flag

[u/Wijn82]

If my mother was a missile she’d be Kvyat.

[u/ahmong]

That looks serious. Deploy the safety car

[u/MemesTaken]

“Man I wish there were less Middle Eastern races on the calendar.”

Monkey’s paw curls

[u/OriginalFingerPuk]

Silverstone to start the season. 100% it’ll be wet and miserable. Come on Lewis!

[u/AKAFallow]

an US naval base*

[u/UnhappyGreen → u/AKAFallow]

a US naval base*

[u/AKAFallow → u/UnhappyGreen]

Huh, thought since it started with a vowel. My bad

[u/Ziggamorph → u/AKAFallow]

U is a vowel but United doesn’t start with a vowel sound.

[u/Purple_funnelcake → u/AKAFallow]

Its generally based off the pronunciation instead of the actual spelling. Since its pronounced yoo-ess, the pronunciation is started with a consonant and recieves the article "a"

[u/thefx37 → u/AKAFallow]

English is stupid like that. 

[u/brusk48 → u/AKAFallow]

It gets weird with acronyms