Formula 1 presses ahead with Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix amid Middle East missile escalation

F1 to run as planned despite disquiet in paddock

F1 is pressing ahead with plans to run the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. It’s fair to say this is causing some disquiet in the paddock, even if few — if any — are voicing it publicly.

The argument to press on as planned is that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi governments are saying there is no reason for F1 not to go, there have been no attacks on civilian infrastructure since the spring, and the countries are operating on a business-as-usual basis.

On top of that, the UK Foreign Office is not advising against travel, instead warning that there is "a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation in the region", and that "British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruption".

Mercedes boss warns of late changes

As Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff put it on Sunday: "Whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi happens at the moment, everybody says so, and so we need to go the direction of this is six more races to go."

If there is an escalation in the Middle East, for example after the US mid-term elections on 3 November, and the races have to be cancelled at late notice, then Imola in Italy is being prepared as a back-up option for the weekend of Abu Dhabi.