FIA chief says Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to go ahead despite tensions

What the report says

The head of Formula One’s governing body has said the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will proceed as scheduled, despite heightened tensions in the Middle East. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), said the sport was “fully prepared” for the November 29 Qatar Grand Prix and the December 6 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP.

The announcement comes after earlier disruption elsewhere in the region. Al Jazeera reported that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled this year after the outbreak of the United States and Israel’s war with Iran, while the Bahrain race was postponed and moved to Malaysia. The article also noted that several events in Saudi Arabia have recently been cancelled or delayed amid attacks on the country by Yemen’s Houthis.

Ben Sulayem’s remarks align with comments made last month by Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali. The report said some drivers have voiced mixed views about racing in the region, including four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The late-season races will close a championship already decided, with Kimi Antonelli having secured the drivers’ title and Mercedes claiming the constructors’ championship in Sao Paulo last weekend.

For Formula One, the decision underscores how the sport is navigating security and logistical concerns while keeping its calendar intact in the Gulf region, where Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are due to host the season’s finale.