FIA chief backs Middle East F1 races. Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar. Imola waits in reserve.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Formula 1 can still close its season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite the conflict keeping regional security under scrutiny. He insists he sees no current reason to fear for personnel travelling to either Grand Prix, while acknowledging that nobody can predict what may happen next. The position leaves the final two rounds on the race calendar for now, not beyond review. Earlier in the year, F1 postponed its Bahrain and Saudi Arabian events; Saudi Arabia was later cancelled, while Bahrain moved to Malaysia. With other racing categories avoiding the region, the FIA’s confidence faces a sharper test: a race decision must weigh today’s conditions against the risks of a fast-changing situation.
Ben Sulayem stands by the FIA’s Middle East safety assessment
Ben Sulayem framed his view in personal terms, saying his family remains in the region while he is travelling. He contrasted the images circulating in international media with what he says people on the ground are experiencing, but stopped short of promising that conditions could not change. His message is confidence in the present, not a guarantee about the future.
That distinction matters for a travelling Formula 1 operation. Drivers, mechanics, officials and support staff move as a large group, and a credible safety plan must cover more than the circuit itself. Ben Sulayem said the FIA would not send personnel or competitors somewhere it considered risky; the statement echoes concerns raised as drivers look to the FIA amid regional tensions. For now, the governing body says it sees no immediate obstacle to the two races.
F1’s race calendar reflects the conflict’s shifting impact
The season has already absorbed disruption. F1 postponed the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix earlier in the year, with Saudi Arabia ultimately cancelled and Bahrain transferred to Malaysia. Those changes show how quickly a scheduled event can become unworkable when travel, security and government decisions converge; the earlier cancellations set a clear precedent for the championship.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain a different case in the FIA’s current assessment, but the pressure is not simply sporting. Teams need time to move equipment and staff, while organisers and authorities must coordinate access and protection. Reports that the Dakar Rally could leave Saudi Arabia next January underline that other motorsport series are reviewing their exposure too. A calendar entry can stay in place until the practical conditions say otherwise.
Imola remains a contingency if the FIA changes course
Ben Sulayem says the FIA is ready to support an alternative if the final rounds cannot go ahead as planned. Imola has been discussed as a possible replacement, which would return the season finale to Europe for the first time in almost three decades. The circuit offers a practical fallback, but naming a venue is not the same as securing the full event.
The FIA chief said he had asked for a second group of officials to be ready, in case travel restrictions prevent the regular race director or stewards from reaching the event. That detail exposes the operational challenge: Formula 1, the FIA, teams and host governments all need to reach the same decision, with enough time to move people and equipment. The governing body is holding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi plan while preparing for a different call if regional security or travel access changes.
For paddock updates on the evolving Middle East situation, follow the latest F1 race-calendar developments at LAS Motorsport.
