Formula One has confirmed next month's races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not take place as FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the sport "will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first".
The Middle East conflict had already placed the rounds on 12 April and 19 April in major doubt and they were both officially cancelled ahead of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix.
It leaves F1 with a five-week void between the third round of the new season in Japan on 29 March and the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May, and looks likely to reduce the number of races this season from 24 to 22 – although it was not entirely ruled out that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia events could be run at another stage this year.
A statement from F1’s governing body, the FIA, read: "It has been confirmed today that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.
"While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April. The FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled times.
"The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and our member clubs in the region."
Ben Sulayem said: "The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.
"We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events.
"Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow."
There are further planned races in the region in Qatar on 29 November and the concluding round of the season in Abu Dhabi a week later. F1 chiefs remain hopeful those two races will go ahead as scheduled.
