Carlos Sainz has appeared to backtrack on his concerns about Formula 1 travelling to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, issuing a statement expressing confidence in the FIA and F1 Group’s safety decisions just hours after questioning whether the final two races of the season should go ahead.
The Williams driver, who serves as president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), had openly questioned assurances that the races would proceed as planned, pointing to continuing uncertainty across the Middle East. However, a subsequent statement from Williams struck a markedly different tone, prompting questions about why the Spaniard’s position appeared to change so suddenly.
FIA insists Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead
Formula 1’s final two races of the season, the Qatar Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, have become the focus of growing debate amid concerns about the security situation in the Middle East.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insisted earlier this week that both events “will definitely go ahead”.
His comments attracted criticism from some sections of the media, with questions raised about whether the situation was being portrayed as more reassuring than circumstances justified. Ben Sulayem also highlighted his confidence in regional security, saying he was leaving his family there.
The FIA and Formula 1’s commercial rights holder have considerable financial and logistical interests in completing the calendar as planned. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains over whether conditions will allow the events to proceed safely.
Sainz questions assurances over the races
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Sainz made it clear that the assurances from Formula 1’s leadership had not convinced him.
“They seem convinced that Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead, but they cannot convince me: it seems to me that there is still a lot going on there in the Middle East.”
The Spaniard also pointed to the upcoming US midterm elections, suggesting their outcome and wider political consequences could affect the regional situation.
His comments appeared to reflect broader unease among some members of the F1 paddock, although the extent of those concerns remains difficult to establish publicly.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that Canal+, the French broadcaster holding Formula 1 television rights, had informed F1 Group that it would not send its usual on-site coverage team to the Middle East races, instead planning to broadcast from its Paris studios.
That decision, if confirmed, would represent a notable change in coverage arrangements, although it would not by itself establish whether either race was in danger of cancellation.
Williams issues statement in apparent U-turn
Just hours after Sainz’s remarks, Williams released a statement seeking to clarify how his comments had been portrayed in the media.
However, the wording went further than a simple clarification, with the team appearing to distance itself from the doubts expressed by its driver.
“In light of the way my statements have been portrayed in the press, I want to make it clear that I know the FIA and the F1 Group consider safety an absolute priority, and that I therefore have full confidence in the decision they make.”
The statement concluded: “We look forward to the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”
The contrast between Sainz’s original comments and the subsequent message was striking. His initial remarks questioned the confidence surrounding the races, while the statement presented him as trusting the organisations responsible for deciding whether they could proceed.
That change inevitably raised questions in the press room about whether Williams had encouraged the clarification or whether the driver had simply wanted to correct what he considered a misleading interpretation of his words.
There is, however, no established evidence that Williams or Sainz was pressured by Formula 1 or the FIA to change his position.
Middle East uncertainty continues to fuel speculation
The timing of the statement added to the discussion, with international media continuing to report on potential escalation across the region rather than a clear return to stability.
Some reports have speculated about possible future military action involving the United States, Israel and Iran following the US midterm elections. Other reports have raised the possibility of reductions in diplomatic staffing in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Such claims should be treated with caution unless supported by confirmed official information. Nevertheless, they help explain why questions about the security of major international sporting events continue to attract attention.
For Formula 1, the challenge is to balance the commercial and sporting importance of completing the season against its responsibility to drivers, teams, staff, broadcasters and spectators.
Sainz’s apparent change of tone has therefore become part of a wider debate about the remaining races. Whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi proceed will ultimately depend on the relevant authorities’ assessments and the circumstances closer to each event.
For now, the FIA maintains that both races will go ahead, while uncertainty surrounding the regional situation continues to dominate discussion in the paddock.
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