Photo via The Race

FIA adamant Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs will go ahead

Formula 1’s final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will proceed as scheduled, according to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who dismissed concerns over regional tensions despite recent escalations. The Middle East remains unstable, with Iranian missile strikes sinking two container ships near the Strait of Hormuz last week and Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia—including a deadly assault on Riyadh’s international airport—amid ongoing clashes in the West Bank.

Ben Sulayem emphasized the FIA’s commitment to safety, noting that staff and drivers would never be sent to high-risk areas, while acknowledging that media reports often exaggerate threats. He confirmed the races are ‘fine’ to host, citing his own presence in the UAE with family as proof of perceived security, though he left open the possibility of adjustments if conditions worsen.

The decision aligns with F1’s recent shift, now assuming the races will happen unless instructed otherwise, after earlier uncertainty over a mid-October deadline for a final call.

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