Formula 1 confirms that the final two rounds will be held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite regional tensions
Stefano Domenicali confirms the championship's commitment to the current schedule, with most tickets for the Abu Dhabi race sold
Quick Look
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, announced that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will remain at the end of the season despite the military tensions in the region, confirming the readiness to host and selling most of the tickets for the Abu Dhabi race, amid anticipation of the drivers’ positions.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
These statements come in light of regional military tensions that have been ongoing for months affecting the Gulf countries.
The CEO of the Formula 1 World Championship, Stefano Domenicali, announced on Saturday, contrary to all expectations, that the final two rounds of the season will be held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
The Italian official told the French channel Canal Plus, on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was scheduled to be held in the spring before being moved this week to the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia: “Based on the information available to us, everything is certain regarding the holding of the two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The head of the first category of motorsport returned to confirm to Sky Sport Italia the “calendar for the final two rounds” of the season, scheduled for November 29 and December 6 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, two Gulf countries that have been affected for months by the military conflict between the United States, Iran and Israel.
Domenicali said that he received “assurances that everything is fine,” stressing that “the teams and drivers are informed of the situation with complete transparency,” in case the situation deteriorates further before the end of the year.
Hosting a single Formula 1 race requires a budget of tens of millions of dollars.
Domenicali explained to Canal Plus that “99 percent of the tickets” for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix scheduled for the Yas Marina Circuit have been sold, noting that the event enjoys “great enthusiasm.”
It now remains to be seen how drivers react to this announcement.
In a press conference held Thursday in Sepang, the four-time world champion, Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, said in a diplomatic tone that he was counting on “the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Formula 1 to make the right decision.”
One of the alternatives that were discussed was moving the UAE race to Imola in Italy.
In another motorsport championship, the World Endurance Racing Championship (WEC) decided to replace the Bahrain and Qatar rounds with two races in Barcelona, Spain, and Monza, Italy, at the end of the season.
Open Questions
- How will the drivers' final reaction to holding the races?
