Qatar and Abu Dhabi: Sainz won't take the season finale for granted

Confidence called premature

The official line hasn't moved: the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of November, followed by Abu Dhabi on the first weekend of December, are set to close the 2026 season. Stefano Domenicali has repeated that F1 intends to keep both events. Sainz, a director of the GPDA, doesn't share that optimism. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, the Spaniard said it was hard, as things stand, to be convinced both races will go ahead.

He was careful to stress that he was speaking for himself, not on behalf of the drivers' association. He isn't calling for the races to be cancelled. His point is different: the situation could change very quickly over the next month or six weeks, and F1 needs a back-up plan ready to go rather than treating the trip as a given.

A context that remains volatile

The Williams driver isn't speaking in a vacuum. The conflict pitting the United States and Israel against Iran shows no sign of resolution, and fresh Houthi strikes have targeted Saudi Arabia. Washington has started evacuating non-essential diplomatic staff from the kingdom. The US midterm elections on November 3 are also being watched closely, with some media reporting possible new strikes on Iran after the vote.

F1 has been here before. Earlier this year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were postponed because of regional instability.

A call to order and a plan B at Imola

Not everyone appreciated Sainz's comments. The FIA and F1 asked him to clarify his position, which he did in a statement released through Williams, saying he fully trusts both bodies and that safety remains their priority.

The other drivers opted for calm. George Russell says nobody will be sent somewhere dangerous. Lando Norris says friends who live in the region feel safe there. Franco Colapinto points out that the FIA and F1 have far more information than the drivers, while Isack Hadjar feels the matter is entirely out of his hands.

The fallback option is real: Imola could host a replacement finale on the date planned for Abu Dhabi. The idea raised a few smiles. Oscar Piastri mostly hopes it will be above zero degrees, and Sainz joked about ending the season in the cold.

An already gruelling run-in

Beyond geopolitics, Sainz is worried about the pace. Nine races in eleven weekends, including a triple-header starting in Austin: the show may benefit, but the championship risks losing clarity. And some team members only spend three to five days a month at home. With Kimi Antonelli closing in on the title, knowing where and when the last two rounds will be held is far from a detail.

For now, F1 is holding its line and the drivers are falling in behind it. But Sainz has raised a question nobody can yet answer: in six weeks' time, will the Gulf still be a place where racing can go ahead with peace of mind? Until then, every piece of news from the region will be watched as closely as the lap times.