F1 confirms Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix will go ahead despite Middle East war

F1 confirms season finales will proceed in Gulf

Formula One's season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead as planned despite the conflict in the Middle East, the sport's chief executive Stefano Domenicali confirmed on Saturday.

"Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for [us to stay in] Qatar and Abu Dhabi," Domenicali told French broadcaster Canal+ on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the head of motorsport's blue riband series "confirmed the schedule for the final two grands prix" of the year in Qatar on 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 6 December.

The confirmation ends weeks of uncertainty. On 11 September, F1 had delayed a decision on its Qatar and Abu Dhabi finale, and on 24 September teams were told they would learn by mid-October whether the races would proceed, with Imola in Italy on standby as a contingency venue. Domenicali has now moved ahead of that previously stated timeline.

Domenicali insisted "that everything was in order" and that "teams and drivers were being kept informed of the situation". He added that 99% of tickets had been sold in Abu Dhabi and that the season-ending race was generating "great excitement".

Verstappen voices reluctance

Not all drivers are eager to compete in the Gulf, however. Max Verstappen, who will start from pole position in Malaysia on Sunday, said during the week he would prefer the season not to finish in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

"Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn't go," he told ViaPlay. "Then, it doesn't matter if you have a contract or not, I think. But it's not up to me."

One of the options discussed was moving the Emirati race to Imola in Italy, but Domenicali's comments appear to settle the matter in favour of the original schedule.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were scrapped earlier this season due to the start of the US-led war with Iran.