The end of the 2026 Formula 1 season could be moved. Qatar and Abu Dhabi are awaiting the grand circus amid an armed conflict in which they do not participate, yet they find themselves indirectly involved. This weekend MotoGP raced in Qatar, with sabotage by Yamaha included and guidance on measures to take in case of an attack. Now it is Formula 1’s turn.
Asked about the situation, Mike Krack, acting team principal in the press, has been very clear. Aston Martin wants security guarantees before giving the go-ahead to travel to Qatar, whose Grand Prix takes place from November 27 to 29. The potential Iranian retaliation to US and Israeli actions continues to worry.
The Fernando Alonso Team Wants Guarantees
With the drivers’ and constructors’ titles already decided, Formula 1 has nothing sporting at stake at the season’s end, but it does have financial implications. The Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are two of the races that pay the most, so losing them would create a hole in Liberty Media’s finances, which already missed out on Saudi Arabia.
However, the teams want guarantees before traveling. In that regard, Mike Krack, acting team principal, spoke to the press. The Luxembourgian has assured that “we hope Formula 1 does not take unnecessary risks at the Qatar Grand Prix”. And the country is one of those threatened by Iran.
Iran published in early November a list of potential targets in neighboring countries in case of attacks by the United States and Israel. Among those targets were the hotels where paddock personnel for Formula 1 often stay. This past weekend, MotoGP already lived through the experience.
Although the MotoGP Grand Prix apparently proceeded normally, nothing could be further from the truth. To begin with, Yamaha, one of the five brands in the championship, did not participate for safety reasons. But more than that, every paddock member received a somewhat unsettling guide on how to shelter in case of an attack.
So Krack acknowledges that “I have held long meetings with Andy Cowell (CEO of Aston Martin) to address the situation”. The head of Fernando Alonso’s team asserts that “they are aware of the situation, they have much more information than we do and, if there were a serious risk, I’m sure they would take appropriate measures.”
From November 27 to 29 Formula 1 will experience its first venture into dangerous territory in Qatar. A week later, they will do so again in Abu Dhabi.
Images | Aston Martin
