Formula 1 will return to the Middle East for the season finale, but the events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain up in the air.
The current F1 season calendar could be upended again. Due to the conflict in the Middle East, the events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled, but two other Grands Prix are at risk of being cancelled. These are Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with the two events scheduled for the season finale. However, at the moment, the situation remains unclear, and the possibility of racing in the Middle East, even in a few months, remains rather low.
The loss of two more events would have a significant negative economic impact, which is why Liberty Media is seeking immediate alternatives to avoid losing races and revenue. Stefano Domenicali, in a recent interview, took stock of the situation. He Said: “We had to cancel the first two races, which were in Bahrain and Jeddah, but of course now we have to wait because we have the two races at the end of the year, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. So, as you can imagine, we have to wait and see.
We have a deadline by which we have to decide whether the situation will allow us to go. We hope so, as you can imagine, for the bigger picture. But on the other hand, it is our duty, as a global sport, to have an alternative option ready. And that is what we have, of course. As I was saying, the biggest impact on our business right now is really the rising costs of fuel and logistics. You know, we are a global sport and we travel all over the world. These are the main challenges we face today.”
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, F1.com
