Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix to go ahead despite Middle East conflict, says F1 chief

The final races of the Formula One season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned despite the conflict in the Middle East, the sport’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, said on Saturday.

“Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for [us to stay in] Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told French broadcaster Canal+ on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the head of motorsport’s blue riband series “confirmed the schedule for the final two Grands Prix” of the year in Qatar on 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 6 December.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were scrapped earlier this season due to the start of the US-led war with Iran.

Domenicali insisted “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”.

However, not all drivers want to compete in the Gulf. 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.