F1 chief says Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will proceed despite Middle East conflict

Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix relocated to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, that the season-ending Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned. He made the remarks to French broadcaster Canal+.

“Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for [us to stay in] Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told French broadcaster Canal+. He also told Sky Sport Italia he “confirmed the schedule for the final two Grands Prix” of the year. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix were scrapped earlier this season due to the start of the US-led war with Iran.

Domenicali said “that everything was in order” and that “teams and drivers were being kept informed of the situation.” He added that 99% of tickets had been sold in Abu Dhabi and that the season-ending race was generating “great excitement.”

Max Verstappen, who will start from pole position in Malaysia on Sunday, said during the week he would prefer if the season did not finish in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go,” he told ViaPlay. “Then, it doesn’t matter if you have a contract or not, I think. But it’s not up to me.”

One of the options discussed was moving the Emirati race to Imola in Italy. The final two rounds are scheduled to run in Qatar on 29 November and in Abu Dhabi on 6 December.