FIA ADAMANT QATAR AND ABU DHABI GPS WILL GO AHEAD

The FIA is holding firm on Qatar and Abu Dhabi running as scheduled, despite ongoing Middle East volatility. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem dismissed safety concerns, noting his own family lives in the UAE and that he wouldn't put staff at greater risk than himself. "The two races are going to happen," he told media Tuesday.

F1's internal stance has shifted from setting hard decision deadlines in September, then October, to now assuming both races proceed unless told otherwise. Iranian shipping attacks near the Hormuz strait and Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia had raised questions about standby option Imola stepping in as the finale.

Ben Sulayem kept contingencies open — the FIA has backup personnel ready if travel restrictions hit key officials, and Imola remains on standby. But Lusail circuit issued a statement Wednesday confirming preparations are nearly complete. Barring a dramatic escalation, F1 heads to the Gulf as planned.