FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has played down growing fears over the cancellation of the Abu Dhabi and Qatar Grands Prix amid ongoing Middle East conflict.
Both season-ending races are widely expected to be scrapped, with Imola increasingly discussed as a potential impromptu replacement for the Abu Dhabi finale.
Ben Sulayem told the Associated Press that preparations for the November and December events remain “business as usual” and confirmed he is in regular contact with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
The relationship between the FIA and Formula 1 is critical in this situation, as any calendar changes proposed by F1 must receive formal approval from the governing body.
Despite the uncertainty, Ben Sulayem made clear that no decisions would be rushed, with driver and staff safety remaining the primary concern above all else.
“We are not changing anything unless we have to,” he told the Associated Press, striking a measured and cautious tone on the matter.
He also acknowledged the deeply personal dimension of the situation, given his own roots in the region and the wellbeing of those living there.
“Being from that part of the world, we can’t jump the gun and just say, ‘That’s it, we are canceling’ and then cancel,” Ben Sulayem said.
“Are we going to allow our people, our staff, the drivers or the teams to go at risk? No, of course not. We will not. But we’ll have also to listen to the governments and to the local promoter there,” he added.
“And the wellbeing of my family being there and the UAE nationals and everyone that lives there comes as a priority,” Ben Sulayem further stated.
An Imola finale would carry significant symbolic weight, with Kimi Antonelli on course to be crowned world champion there as F1’s youngest-ever title winner by three years.
Abu Dhabi has hosted the season finale every year since 2014 and holds a contractual right to that slot through 2030, making any cancellation a major logistical and commercial disruption.
The 2027 F1 calendar also remains unannounced, with the relevant organisations holding off in the hope that regional tensions will ease before a schedule is finalised.
Ben Sulayem has stated there is “no emergency” regarding the 2027 calendar, though any confirmation would already be significantly delayed compared to how the 2026 schedule was revealed.