The president of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), Abdul Rahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, said the country is still planning to host the MotoGP and Formula One races in November despite regional instability caused by conflict.
Speaking on Tuesday, Al Mannai affirmed: “Qatar has been safe for months. Our airport is operating at 100%, including transit flights between Asia and Europe. If you visit Qatar, you will see life has returned to normal, so we truly look forward to hosting the races again soon.”
According to the plan, the Formula One race at Lusail Circuit near Doha is scheduled for November 29. Formula One organizers said a final decision will be made by mid-September, and if Qatar and Abu Dhabi cannot host, the season could end in Europe.
Meanwhile, the MotoGP race is also scheduled at the same circuit on November 8. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has cancelled its Qatar round scheduled for October 24.
Al Mannai said: “We are preparing for MotoGP and also in discussions with Formula One. Of course, there are things we cannot foresee. The situation is very unpredictable, although it has been fairly quiet so far. Everything depends on what happens in the coming months. We cannot stop our plans; we have to be ready. We are taking step-by-step to monitor and assess the situation. So far, everything is fine, everything is green-lighted.”
US-Israel tensions with Iran, which began in February, have led to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route. Middle Eastern races are considered significant contributors to Formula One’s revenue through hosting fees of up to tens of millions of dollars.
