Lusail chief says Qatar GP preparations are nearing completion

Lusail International Circuit says preparations are nearing completion for its November motorsport events, as the venue faces a tight turnaround and a tense regional backdrop. CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al-Muhannadi said work was progressing as planned ahead of MotoGP and Formula 1 returning to Qatar.

The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for November 29, while MotoGP is set to race at the circuit on November 4-6. Al-Muhannadi said the venue’s teams were focused on making sure every part of the circuit was ready for fans.

Lusail says work is progressing as planned

The circuit’s preparations cover its grandstands, hospitality areas and wider event infrastructure. Al-Muhannadi said Lusail was looking forward to welcoming international visitors for two major events taking place three weeks apart, with preparations close to completion.

That schedule comes after disruption elsewhere on the 2026 calendar. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled, while the Bahrain event was moved to Malaysia. The change to the Bahrain venue is covered in our report on Sepang replacing Bahrain.

Regional uncertainty keeps attention on the race plan

The source of concern is the wider instability in the region, including the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and Houthi missile and drone strikes across the Arabian Peninsula. A ballistic missile struck the Saudi Aramco headquarters complex in Dhahran on October 13, about 160 kilometres across the Persian Gulf from Lusail. Maritime strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on regional transport hubs have also raised concerns about possible airspace closures and freight delays.

The FIA and Formula 1 have maintained that the Qatar race will go ahead as scheduled, while Imola is on standby if conditions deteriorate. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body considers Qatar and Abu Dhabi secure enough to host races, and would not send drivers or paddock personnel into areas of unmanaged danger. Qatari authorities have also said the country is safe and expects both events to proceed as planned.

The wider debate over how F1 assesses regional risks has featured in Hamilton’s questions about consistency over Middle East races. For now, Lusail’s public update is that preparations remain on schedule, with the circuit working towards its November double bill.