Despite the continued troubles in the Middle East, shockingly Formula One bosses have charted their course to finish the season,racing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. This is despite the Dakar Rally due to be hosted by Saudi Arabia being cancelled.Yesterday, TJ13 reported the Rugby Nations Cup due to be held in Qatar has also been called off.
Security Threats and Emergency Evacuation Protocols
Further, following the heavy defeat for the Republicans in the US mid-term elections, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has issued a list of retaliatory targets it will hit, should the US and Israel resume bombing. It is noted that some of these targets are hotels used by both MotoGP and F1 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
ESPN is reporting that F1 has evacuation plans for every race on the calendar as part of its risk assessment, and the updated proposals for the two Middle Eastern races have now been shared with the teams. These include how to evacuate either circuit at short notice and where and how to regroup in the face of a missile attack.
Freight Movements and Alternative Imola Prep
Some F1 news outlets are making a big deal about the fact that the teams’ freight from Baku and Malaysia is already on its way to the Middle East and are citing it as some kind of proof a final decision has been made. Yet this logistical operation is not out of the ordinary, and the teams have a number of sets of race weekend equipment which travel around the world.
There will be kit from the European season available to the teams, who at relatively short notice can up and travel to Imola, where work commenced some six weeks ago on erecting grandstands and the regular logistical operation for a circuit to host an F1 weekend. F1 has agreed to cover the costs of the setup, should the racing go ahead in the Middle East.
MotoGP as the Paddock’s Guinea Pig in Qatar
This weekend, the eyes of the racing world will be on Qatar, as MotoGP—also owned by Liberty Media—is set to become the guinea pigs for the Formula One events to be held in just over two weeks’ time. However, despite threats of being barred from the final two events after Qatar, Yamaha have pulled out of the race in Lusail, citing their global corporate travel guidelines which restrict employees from travelling to the Middle East.
One rider has used the weekend in Qatar as a reason to bring forward scheduled surgery for his wrist and arm, whilst others have claimed to feel ill. Since the war broke out in February, Iran has attacked pretty much all the Muslim Middle Eastern states, including Qatar, which is known to host senior figures of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Global Broadcast Risks and Geopolitical Fallout
So there’s no guarantee the IRGC’s relationship with the Qataris will cause them to be spared from any Iranian anti-West attacks. Both MotoGP and F1 are massive globally broadcast events, and should Iran wish to make a point which would be broadcast on every news channel around the world, this is their chance.
If by any chance a spectator or member of the F1 circuit was maimed or killed, the Iranians would receive an incredible publicity boost for their cause. And given reports suggest the regime murdered some 30,000 of their own citizens during an uprising earlier this year in January, a few Westerners is all the more glory.
Silencing Driver Concerns in the Paddock
F1 has shut down all discussion on the matter, with Carlos Sainz being hurriedly silenced after commenting at the US Grand Prix in Austin. The Spaniard was asked during the FIA official press conference how he felt about the FIA’s determination to go racing in the Middle East. “I think they seem very convinced that it’s going to go ahead. I think on my personal side, and not speaking as the GPDA, it’s very difficult to be convinced right now because there are still things happening in the Middle East, and also there is obviously an election that is going to happen in the US and things that are going to happen on the political side of the world that could affect the next month, month and a half, very suddenly. So, I think it’s relatively premature to be so convinced.”
Within the hour, Williams were issuing a statement clarifying their driver’s position, stating he had every confidence in the decisions to be taken regarding the safety of all personnel concerned travelling with F1 to the Middle East.
Max Verstappen was told of Sainz’s comments the following weekend in Mexico, and his response was very revealing.”Someone will probably have had a word with him afterwards! You’re not really allowed to say those things.” And this from probably one of the most open and honest—heart on his sleeve—members of the paddock.
The Wider Sporting World Withdraws
It is worthy of note that the decisions to travel to the Middle East by the two sports owned by Liberty Media—MotoGP and F1—stand in stark contrast to every other sporting body. Along with the Dakar and the Rugby Nations Cup, the World Endurance Championship cancelled all three of its proposed visits to the Middle East in Qatar and Bahrain.
The Asian Football Confederation Cup has been cancelled this year, along with top-level tennis competitions such as the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, and the relocation of the WTA Finals away from Saudi Arabia to the United States.
The Astronomical Financial Conundrum
Liberty Media are playing with fire, and it is a huge gamble to take Formula One racing in a region of the world where security incidents are common. Yet the conundrum for the sport is all about money. The hosting fees paid by the four Middle Eastern hosts are astronomical and hugely disproportionate to the other twenty races held across the season.
Saudi Arabia pays $55m a year plus separate sponsorships from Aramco to F1. The Lusail hosts also cough up $55m as part of a ten-year deal. Bahrain’s latest arrangement sees them contributing $45m for the early-season race, and Abu Dhabi for now is on a bargain season-finale race fee of $45m too.
The combined total of these four events is $200m and around 20% of all the race fees paid to Liberty Media across an entire season. The exact contractual nature of these deals is unknown except to a select few. However, should F1 cancel their scheduled final two rounds, it feels as though they would forfeit the hosting fees—otherwise why go, when the rest of the sporting world is staying as far away as possible?
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
