Williams driver Carlos Sainz is skeptical about claims that the volatile situation in the Middle East is suitable for Formula 1 to go ahead and race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
As the world holds its breath regarding the developments in the Middle East between the US, Israel, and Iran, Formula 1 is gearing up to go racing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi late in November and early December, respectively.
The situation is unstable, with hostilities expected to resume between the fighting parties with US midterm elections and Israeli parliament elections as the only reason why missiles aren’t already flying around.
With Gulf countries getting their fair share of bombing whenever the US, Israel, and Iran are fighting, it means the situation in these countries would not be safe to hold a Formula 1 race.
However, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is adamant his country will host the season finale while organizers in Qatar are moving full steam ahead to get the Lusail track ready for the Grand Prix. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled earlier with the former held in Malaysia earlier this month.
Sainz, on the other hand, is not so sure Formula 1 should do these two races and said in Austin on Thursday: “I think they seem very convinced that it’s going to go ahead. On my personal side, I’m not speaking as the GPDA; it’s very difficult to be convinced right now.
“There’s still plenty of 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 in the political side of the world that could affect the next month, month and a half.
“So I think it’s relatively premature to be so convinced,” he added. “But as it stands, we would go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and if the FIA and Formula 1 decide that’s still safe and a good scenario, I think we as drivers have to go with whatever they say.
“The world can change a lot in the next month, and we need to stay diligent and reactive to whatever happens and not just go because we want to go right now,” Sainz warned in conclusion. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)