F1 presses ahead with plan to hold season finale in Middle East despite safety concerns

Imola stood down as back-up plan to finish the year

Qatar and Abu Dhabi races set to go ahead as planned

Imola has been stood down as a back-up plan for the Formula One season finale as the sport pushes ahead with its scheduled Middle East races.

The Italian venue, 20 miles from Bologna, was lined up to replace Abu Dhabi as the final race amid concern over the ongoing conflict in the region.

The Abu Dhabi round wraps up the season on 6 December, while the Qatar race takes place the previous week on 29 November.

April rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled as the war broke out, with the Bahrain event held in Malaysia in September, but with the situation having somewhat stabilised in recent months F1’s management always retained confidence in finishing the season as planned.

The Press Association understands that a meeting between key stakeholders took place on Tuesday, with teams thought to be seeking detail and assurances around what plans were in place should an escalation occur during those race weeks.

MotoGP successfully held its race in Qatar last weekend, despite reported resistance from riders and Yamaha withdrawing from the event.

F1 teams have consistently expressed confidence in the sport and governing body, the FIA, to make the right decision over where to end the season and none are understood to have expressed an unwillingness over travelling to the Middle East.

Safety remains the leading concern and it is understood F1 chiefs remain ready and prepared to pull the events should an escalation happen in the coming weeks.

The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said on Tuesday in a post on Instagram: “We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding Grands Prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the FIA Formula One World Championship.

“We are working closely with our partners to ensure everything is in place for our drivers, teams and fans. We look forward to welcoming everyone for two thrilling weekends of racing and an unforgettable finish to the Formula One season.”