Formula 1 has confirmed the season will conclude as planned in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, rejecting the Imola circuit's potential role as a backup. The sport will hold races in Qatar on 27-29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4-6 December despite regional tensions. Imoma was asked to stand down preparations, but F1 maintains it could cancel if the situation deteriorates.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain faced disruptions due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, though Bahrain eventually raced at Malaysia's Sepang circuit. An F1 spokesperson emphasized safety as the priority, stating they will not hesitate to act if conditions worsen. The decision proceeds because conditions in the two host nations have not negatively developed, government travel advice permits racing, insurance is valid, and events are operating normally.
Both Qatari and Emirati authorities have returned to business as usual. Notably, the Qatari sovereign investment fund owns part of the Audi team, and Abu Dhabi is a key investor in McLaren. Despite financial incentives and sponsorship ties, several senior F1 figures have voiced disquiet to BBC Sport about racing near the Strait of Hormuz and in light of Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia, which borders the host nations.
A MotoGP race recently occurred in Qatar, shared by the same US ownership group.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing