FIA says Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will go ahead

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Formula 1’s final two races of the 2026 season, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are set to go ahead as planned despite continuing volatility in the Middle East. He said he was comfortable with FIA personnel travelling to both events, while stressing that the situation could not be predicted with certainty.

The latest position follows a shift in expectations around whether the races would proceed. An earlier indication within the paddock was that a decision would be made by mid-September, with Imola available as a potential replacement. That timeframe later moved to mid-October. More recently, the expectation had become that Qatar and Abu Dhabi would take place unless teams and staff were told otherwise.

Ben Sulayem says the events are currently safe to stage

Asked whether the two venues were suitable for races at present, Ben Sulayem said they were. He pointed to his own family living in the UAE as part of his assessment, but also made clear that his confidence was based on the current situation, not a guarantee about what might happen later.

He said the FIA would not send staff, drivers or officials somewhere it considered risky. Ben Sulayem added that he was happy for FIA staff to travel to the events, saying his own presence in the region reflected his sense of security.

The comments come against a backdrop of regional incidents described in recent reports. Two container ships were struck by missiles and sunk near the Strait of Hormuz last week, amid an increase in attacks on shipping attributed to Iran. The Houthis have also targeted locations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh’s international airport, while attacks by settlers against Palestinians and foreign nationals have been reported in the West Bank.

For more on the events, see our guide to the Qatar Grand Prix and our coverage of concerns over F1’s approach to Middle East races.

Imola remains available if circumstances change

Ben Sulayem said the FIA was prepared to adapt if required, noting that it had acted on requests from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia when their F1 races were cancelled in April. The Bahrain-branded grand prix was subsequently held in Malaysia earlier this month; Sepang’s role as a replacement venue was confirmed after the Bahrain event was called off.

He confirmed that Imola remains a standby option. The FIA has also prepared an additional team in case travel restrictions or government advice prevent key personnel from attending in Qatar or Abu Dhabi. For now, however, Ben Sulayem’s position is that both races will go ahead.