Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will go ahead as planned, F1 chief Domenicali says

SEPANG — Formula One will not change its calendar again this year despite the conflict in the Middle East, with the Qatar Grand Prix on November 29 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6 going ahead as planned, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday.

“This is the course we have set based on the information and assurances we have received. We will continue to follow this strategy through the end of the year,” Domenicali told Sky Sports Italia on the sidelines of the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Domenicali added that contingency plans to end the season in Imola, Italy, are off the table for now. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled earlier this year because of the conflict; Bahrain’s race was rescheduled and relocated to Sepang this weekend, while the Saudi race was not reinstated.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told German broadcaster Sky that teams are preparing accordingly and that “right now, all lights are green”, while stressing the situation is volatile and must be watched.

Not all drivers are comfortable. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who starts on pole for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix, told ViaPlay during the week he would prefer the season not to finish in Qatar and Abu Dhabi while war rages nearby: “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.”

Sources: Malay Mail / dpa; SPORTbible; Flashscore; News.GP