FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem expects Formula 1 to conclude its 2026 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi as scheduled, despite continuing instability across the Middle East.
While acknowledging that the situation remains unpredictable, the governing body's chief insists there is currently no reason to abandon either race.
The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has already forced the cancellation of this year's Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. Attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and renewed violence involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have further heightened regional tensions.
Nevertheless, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has maintained that retaining the two season-ending Middle Eastern races remains the preferred option, with Imola reportedly available as a contingency venue should circumstances deteriorate.
Speaking to selected media, Ben Sulayem expressed confidence in proceeding, arguing that conditions on the ground differ from the picture often presented in international coverage.
Security remains the priority
The FIA president pointed to his decision to keep his family in the United Arab Emirates as evidence of his confidence in the current situation, while acknowledging that nobody could predict what might happen next.
"They're fine. One thing I would say, I have my children there - you think I would leave them there, and I'm here now with you?” he explained.
"You have to be sensible in this and saying, 'are we going to have an issue?' What you read in the media is actually different than we have there. You know, we read and we see the TV, we don't have that, really. Otherwise, why will I stay there, you know? Why would I leave my family?
"But does this say that there is nothing going to happen? I cannot predict with 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, you know, but if I am there, it means I feel secure about it."
Ben Sulayem stressed that the FIA would nevertheless remain alert to developments, pointing to its willingness to adapt other motorsport events in the region.
"But we don't know for the time being. As I said, the Dakar [Rally in Saudi Arabia], if we hear anything from them, we will adjust. When I say them is the Federation of Motorsport in Saudi Arabia, we will adjust to that and we will help,” he said.
"Like when we helped with Bahrain, I mean, when the request was there to not organise the event in Saudi Arabia, then there was another call from the Crown Prince of Bahrain to move it to Malaysia.
“The relationship was there and it's sending a message that, you know, like with all of this, we still will have motorsport."
FIA prepares backup personnel
The governing body is also preparing for potential travel restrictions that could prevent race officials from reaching events.
Ben Sulayem cited the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, where officials from Cyprus, Greece and Jordan helped staff the Lebanese round before the Cypriot event completed the season following Saudi Arabia's cancellation.
"Of course, the FIA is always ready. I told them to have another team ready from the FIA if there was nothing going on. But maybe some of the governments say, you cannot travel - so what do we do?” he concluded.
"If everybody is there and then the teams are there and the FOM is running it and suddenly we say, oh, we cannot have our race director, we cannot have our stewards. You have to be ready, and you have to have another team ready in case.
"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," he concluded.
For now, Ben Sulayem expects both races to proceed, although the FIA's final decisions will depend on the evolving security situation.
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