Formula 1 confirmed on Saturday that April's races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to the war in Iran.

The conflict had already placed the rounds on April 12 and April 19 in major doubt, and they were both officially canceled 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 March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, 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.

"While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East," Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said in a statement.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion. We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so."

A statement from F1 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."

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president, said in the statement: "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.

"My sincere thanks to the promoters, our partners, and our colleagues across the championship for the collaborative and constructive approach that has led to this decision."

Both nations have been embroiled in the war between Iran and the United States and Israel.

The logistics for F1 to move its freight around the world meant a decision was needed quickly about whether to go racing in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Sources have told ESPN that the call to cancel Bahrain was straightforward but the move for the Saudi race was less so.

The Saudis were pushing for their race to go ahead as normal, but F1 did not want to risk a situation where an escalation closer to the race took place with freight and personnel already in the country.

The Saudi Arabian GP infamously went ahead in 2022 despite a missile attack on a nearby Aramco oil depot by Yemen's Houthi rebels while a practice session was taking place at the circuit.

On that occasion, drivers did not want to continue but were persuaded to go ahead by F1 and the Saudi race organizers after a four-hour meeting.

While that was an attack that occurred without warning during a race weekend already underway, F1 knew that, with the existing situation in Iran, the safety risks were too high to go back to Saudi Arabia this time around.

There are further planned races in the region: in Qatar on Nov. 29 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.

Speaking earlier this week, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton backed F1 to make the right decision.

Hamilton, who will start from third on the grid in China on Sunday, said: "I know that [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] will do what is right for all of us and the sport. That is the great thing with having a great leader like him."