Mohammed Ben Sulayem: What the FIA President has to say about the Formula 1 World Championship finale

The Formula 1 World Championship finale is drawing ever closer, and there is still a question mark hanging over the last two races of the year. This is because, according to the schedule, they are due to take place in the Arabian Peninsula – specifically in Qatar (29 November) and Abu Dhabi (6 December) – and thus in the Middle East, where the risk of military escalation with the Houthi militia is considered high.

Several countries have issued security warnings for travellers to the entire Middle East region; US citizens, too, have been urged to exercise increased vigilance and warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. The relevant statement notes that the hostilities in the region “have the potential to spread rapidly beyond the immediate area.”

It goes on to say: “Iran and groups supported by Iran could target other US interests abroad or locations associated with the United States and Americans worldwide, including US companies and other institutions.” In Qatar, the US Embassy advised US citizens to closely monitor official alerts and local media, avoid crowds and follow the instructions of the local authorities.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem does not expect any problems

Despite the heightened alert level, Formula 1 intends to stick to its original plan of concluding the season with the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. And according to Mohammed Ben Sulayem, there is currently no cause for concern. Our colleagues at ‘The Race’ quote the FIA President as saying: “The FIA uses common sense, and we would never send our staff, the drivers or any officials to a place that we feel poses a risk – that would never happen.”

He himself, however, has no concerns regarding the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. As proof, he points to the fact that his family is in the United Arab Emirates. “Do you think I’d leave them there if it were dangerous? You have to remain sensible about this. It’s one thing to ask whether there will be problems. But what you read in the media is clearly different from what we actually experience on the ground. When we read that or watch it on TV, we ask ourselves where on earth that’s happening. We really don’t have anything like that here. Why else would I stay there or leave my family there? Does that mean nothing will happen? I can’t predict that. All I can say today is that there are no problems and the two races will go ahead.”

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Should the situation continue to escalate, the FIA has a season finale at Imola as a fallback option. This would take place over the weekend of 6 December. “The FIA is always ready,” Ben Sulayem explained.