Qatar and Abu Dhabi F1 finales set to proceed despite regional tensions

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is confident that the Formula 1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will take place as scheduled despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Earlier in the year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were canceled amid the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Bahrain’s organizers subsequently arranged for its postponed Grand Prix to be staged in Malaysia. Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz have continued as both sides dispute control of the waterway and oil exports have slowed sharply.

Tensions have also increased between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reportedly killed 13 people. The airport has since reopened with limited services, while the United Kingdom has pledged fighter jets to support Saudi Arabia against further Houthi attacks.

Because Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are close to the areas affected by the conflict, the two season-ending races were placed in doubt. However, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said several weeks ago that keeping the events remained the championship’s primary plan, with Imola identified as a backup venue if tensions escalated.

Discussions about potentially canceling the races have diminished in recent weeks, and the championship now appears set to retain both the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events. In MotoGP, teams have also been informed that the rescheduled Qatar round will take place in November.

Speaking to selected media, including Motorsport.com, Ben Sulayem said he felt “secure” about the races and explained that he would not leave his family in the United Arab Emirates if he considered the situation unsafe.

“They’re fine. One thing I would say is that my children are there. Do you think I would leave them there while I am here with you?”

“You have to be sensible about this and ask whether there is going to be a problem. What you read in the media is different from what we see there. We watch the news on television, but we do not have that experience. Otherwise, why would I stay there? Why would I leave my family?”

“That does not mean nothing can happen. I cannot predict what might occur. All I can tell you today is that, for now, there is no problem and the two races are going to happen.”

F1 cars lined up at the start of the race

Photo by: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images

“I would be happy for the FIA staff to go there. I do not think the FIA staff would matter more to me than my own family, and if I am there, it means I feel secure about it.

“But we cannot know for certain. As I said, with the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, if we receive any information from the Saudi Arabian Motor and Motorcycle Federation, we will adapt and provide assistance.

“When we helped with Bahrain, for example, there was a request not to hold the event in Saudi Arabia. Then the Crown Prince of Bahrain called to move it to Malaysia. Those relationships show that motorsport can continue despite these circumstances.”

Ben Sulayem added that the FIA has contingency plans in place to address potential travel disruptions, including relying on local national sporting authorities to provide volunteers and officials.

He cited the FIA Middle East Rally Championship as an example. The series was restarted with officials from Cyprus, Greece and Jordan, and the Cypriot round ultimately brought this year’s championship to a close after the Saudi Arabian round was canceled.

“Of course, the FIA is always ready. I have told them to have another team on standby in case the first cannot travel. But some governments may say, ‘You cannot travel,’ and then we have to find a solution.

“If everyone is there, including the teams, and the FOM is running the event, and then we say, ‘Oh, we cannot have our race director or our stewards,’ that cannot be right. You have to be ready, and you have to have another team available as a backup.”

“We also have the common sense to know that we will never take our staff, drivers or officials to a place where we believe it is risky,” he concluded.

Ben Sulayem also said the future of the 2027 Dakar Rally remains uncertain, but suggested that the event could be moved to Morocco if it cannot be held in Saudi Arabia.

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