Carlos Sainz Jnr has doubts whether the final two rounds of the Formula 1 season in the Middle East will go ahead as planned.

The November and December rounds in Losail, Qatar and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates have been in doubts for months due to the ongoing war between the US and Iran. The war previously led to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix in April (the former took place earlier this month, in name only, after being relocated 6,000 kilometres away to Malaysia).

The series’ CEO Stefano Domenicali previously indicated a decision was needed by mid-September. However no final announcement has yet been made. While FOM and the FIA has repeatedly stated the races will go ahead, they have made arrangements for Imola in Italy to take over as the venue for the finale if needed.

Sainz acknowledged F1’s governing body and commercial rights holder “seem very convinced that it’s going to go ahead.” But the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director said he personally has doubts due to the political situation, including the potentially significant midterm elections in the USA which are less than two weeks away.

“On my personal side and not speaking as a GPDA [director], it’s very difficult to be convinced right now, because there are still things happening, 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, very suddenly.

“So I think it’s relatively premature to be so convinced, but as it stands, we will go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. If the FIA and Formula 1 decide that it’s still safe and a good scenario, I think we, as drivers, have to go with whatever they say.

“We don’t have as much political information, as much inside information as they have, for sure, so we need to follow their lead and trust in their decision-making, but only as it stands.

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“The world can change a lot in the next month, month and a half, and we need to stay diligent and reactive to whatever happens, and not just go because we want to go right now.”

The Losail International Circuit issued a press release yesterday drawing attention to its two major events next month: the F1 grand prix and the rescheduled round of the Moto GP championship which was originally due to take place in April.

Sainz said the GPDA is prepared to follow the FIA’s guidance.

“The GPDA, as united as we are, we don’t have half of the information that Formula 1 and FIA have with all the political battles that are happening in the world,” he said.

“I think the GPDA can help a lot to understand the sport, or make the FIA and F1 understand the sport, what makes racing better, what makes a race track better, what needs to be changed in order to get more safety. But about political matters, realistically none of us have the information and the contacts that F1 and FIA have.

“So, similar to [the media], you need to trust in a way the decision that F1 and FIA take about that matter, but as I said before, we need to stay reactive and see how situations change, I think they will do that and they will take the right decision when it comes.”

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Oscar Piastri agreed the drivers were prepared to put “our trust in the FIA and F1.”

“There have been difficult situations in the past through conflicts and all kinds of things,” he said. “So we’ll put our trust in F1 and the FIA and listen to their advice.”

“We might have to get some snowploughs out if we race in Imola,” he added. “But I think I’ll leave it to F1. I think Imola has just been touted as the replacement, then hopefully it’s above zero. That’s all I ask for.”

Williams has issued a further statement from Sainz regarding his comments on the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix:

“Following some reporting of my comments in the press conference earlier today about ending the season in the Middle East, I want to be clear that I know the FIA and Formula 1 will put safety first and completely trust them to make the right decision. We look forward to racing in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”

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