Formula 1 is sticking to races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi despite the Iran war

Formula 1 wants to hold its final races of the season in the Persian Gulf despite the Iran War. Managing director Stefano Domenicali confirmed to Sky Italia that the Grand Prix in Qatar on November 29th and in Abu Dhabi on December 6th should take place as planned.

The venues for the races had been in doubt for months, so the traditional track in Imola, Italy, had already made arrangements for possible use as an alternative location. Last week, Domenicali announced a decision by mid-October at the latest, but always spoke of a basically "confirmed" racing calendar. There is also a lot of money at stake for Formula 1, as Qatar and Abu Dhabi pay high premiums to be part of the racing calendar.

After the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in the spring and the Iranian counterattacks, Formula 1 canceled the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia planned for April. The race that was canceled in Bahrain will be rescheduled this weekend in Sepang, Malaysia. MotoGP has already planned its World Championship race there three weeks before the Formula 1 race in Qatar, and the premier motorcycle class is also sticking to the trip.