FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix will go ahead as planned despite another high-profile sporting event pulling out of the Middle East.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February precipitated a regional conflict that continues to simmer, particularly around the contested Strait of Hormuz, where several container ships have been fired upon and sunk in recent weeks.
Reports from the United States suggest the US is increasing troop numbers in the region and could resume its bombing campaign following its 3 November elections.
The outbreak of war caused the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix, originally scheduled in April. Bahrain organisers instead held a race in Malaysia earlier this month.
The situation has put the season-closing Qatar (29 November) and Abu Dhabi (6 December) events at risk, with the sport initially setting — and then postponing — deadlines for a decision in September and October.
But the feeling in the paddock over the last month has changed from anticipation of an inevitable cancellation to expectation that the races will go ahead, with organisers for both events preparing as usual, including by selling tickets and signing musical acts.
Though the FIA ultimately rubberstamps Formula 1 decisions about the calendar, Ben Sulayem said he was confident both races could take place safely — albeit while allowing for some wriggle room.
“They’re fine,” he said, per Autosport. “One thing I would say: I have my children there — you think I would leave them there, and I’m here now with you, (if it was dangerous)?
“You have to be sensible in this and say, ‘Are we going to have an issue?’
“What you read in the media is actually different than we have there. We read and we see the TV; we don’t have that, really.
“Otherwise why will I stay there? Why would I leave my family?
“But does this say that there is nothing going to happen? I cannot predict this. I can only tell you today that there is nothing and the two races are going to happen.
“I am happy (for FIA staff to go there). Listen, I don’t think the FIA staff would be more important to me than myself and my family, but if I am there, it means I feel secure about it.”
Ben Sulayem’s insistence that the event will take place comes despite reports this morning that the Dakar Rally, which has taken place in Saudi Arabia since 2020, will not take place in the Middle East in January due to the escalating parallel war between Saudi forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Multiple publications have reported that teams have been told the race will instead start in Europe and then cross into Africa by ferry.
“We have also the common sense here that we will never take our staff or drivers or any officials to a place where we feel it is risky,” Ben Sulayem said, acknowledging the uncertainty around next year’s Dakar running.
Qatar’s MotoGP round is scheduled to take place on 8 November, with Autosport reporting that teams have been told this week that the race will take place.
Special homecoming for Feeney | 01:27
HORNER REVEALS ‘SECRET’ HAMILTON-RED BULL MEETING
Christian Horner has claimed Lewis Hamilton made a bid to join Red Bull Racing for the 2013 season before joining Mercedes.
Hamilton had started his career with McLaren in 2007 and won the title the following season. By the end of 2012 he had amassed 21 victories, but the team was entering a period of competitive decline, leaving him looking for a fresh start.
Red Bull Racing, meanwhile, had won two title doubles with Sebastian Vettel and was on its way to a third in succession.
Writing in his autobiography Drive, Horner claimed that Hamilton’s father, Anthony, made contact with Red Bull Racing to investigate a move to Milton Keynes and a “secret meeting” was called at the house of then chief technical officer Adrian Newey.
“He was looking to leave McLaren, and we were his preferred destination,” Horner wrote.
“‘What will it take to join you guys?’ he said, as we sat down. Adrian, who is not known for his poker face, looked ecstatic. I could hardly blame him. A driver pairing of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton was a tantalising prospect.”
Horner said, though, that Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko was not as enthusiastic owing to the potential pressure that would be put on Vettel by having such a high-profile teammate.
“Certainly, Helmut looked unimpressed when he heard the news,” Horner continued.
“Lewis’s arrival would likely impact Sebastian, his protégé, and he was clearly feeling apprehensive. Intrigued, I tested the waters anyway.
“Simon (Fuller, Hamilton’s manager) was known to be a softly spoken person, but his opening gambit caused my ears to ring. ‘You and I can do the biggest sports deal since Muhammad Ali,’ he said boldly. I laughed, having grown familiar with the sports-agent vernacular. Simon was going to make a lot of money. And Red Bull would have to spend a fortune.
“Despite the undeniable marketing upside, I didn’t pursue the idea with any real forcefulness.”
The deal would have displaced Mark Webber, who instead signed his final contract before retiring at the end of 2014.
Hamilton instead signed for Mercedes, which ascended to the top of the sport in 2014 and propelled him to another six world championships and records for most wins and most poles by a driver. His 84 victories for Mercedes are the most for any driver with one team.
Phillip Island’s GREATEST MOTO GP moment | 12:49
VERSTAPPEN TO GET NEW ENGINEER THIS WEEKEND IN GP TRANSITION
Max Verstappen will begin transitioning to his new race engineer from this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in anticipation of incumbent Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren.
Lambiase has been Verstappen’s engineer since the Dutchman joined Red Bull Racing in 2016 but will defect to McLaren by 2028 at the latest in a move that will see him become chief racing officer of the papaya team.
Red Bull Racing confirmed in July that Tom Hart, who has been Verstappen’s performance engineer since 2020, will step into the role.
But in a sign that Lambiase could leave for McLaren ahead of time, Hart will take the reins for Verstappen’s side of the garage at three of the final six rounds, including this weekend’s race in Austin, the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil and the Las Vegas Grand Prix in late November.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently told Sky Sports he was optimistic that he could get Lambiase to Woking sometime next year, before his official “by 2028” start date.
The transfer process could start early next year, when former Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullogh joins Red Bull Racing as Lambiase’s successor as head of racing.
Lambiase is likely to then be required to undertake a period of gardening leave to fulfil his non-compete obligations.
In a timely milestone, the team sent Lambiase to collect the winning constructor trophy on the Singapore Grand Prix podium, joining Verstappen in his victory celebrations. It was the only track on the calendar, other than the new Madrid circuit, at which the driver-engineer duo hadn’t won.
“I remember he said to me last year in Vegas, ‘This might be the last time I’m on the podium’,” Verstappen recalled.
“I said, ‘Don’t be silly. We’re going to win much more.’ I almost jinxed myself there, I guess.
“It was just super nice that they sent him up. Of course we all know that he is leaving, but I think it was very special to share the podium here on a track that we had not won together. Very nice to see him up there.”
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