F1 has plan if Mideast races can't happen

Formula One has a plan to keep the show on the road should season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi be affected by conflict in the Middle East, chief executive Stefano Domenicali said on Tuesday.

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The Italian emphasised there was no current concern they might not be held.

Qatar is due to host the penultimate round of the championship on Nov 30 with Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina following on Dec 7 with what has been a title decider in the past.

Iran responded to US participation in Israel’s 12-day air war against Iran last month by firing missiles at a US airbase in Qatar, just across the Gulf from Iran.

Airline services in the Middle East have been heavily disrupted with some countries closing their airspace for a period.

Domenicali said Formula One was in daily contact with promoters in the Middle East, who he said remained relaxed, and closely monitoring the situation.

“To say something on that is very, very difficult,” he replied when asked if he felt there was a real risk of the races not happening.