‘Very difficult to be convinced’ of Qatar, Abu Dhabi races proceeding - Sainz

Carlos Sainz says it is very difficult to be convinced the final two races of the Formula 1 season can take place in Qatar and Abu Dhabi given the potential for further unrest.

The Iran war saw the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia postponed due to instability in the region, with Bahrain eventually relocating its race to Malaysia earlier this month. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has made clear the intention is still to race as planed in both Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and Sainz says he will follow the sport’s lead if the situation remains as it currently is, but that there needs to be a willingness to react if there is a resumption of hostilities.

“I think they seem very convinced that it's going to go ahead,” Sainz said. “I think on my personal side, and not speaking as the GPDA [Grand Prix Drivers’ Association], it's very difficult to be convinced right now because there are still 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 on 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 would go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. If the FIA and Formula 1 decide that it’s still a safe and good scenario, I think we as drivers have to go with whatever they say. It's not like we 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, I think the world can change a lot in the next month, one 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.”

Not all drivers were asked for their thoughts, but Sainz’s comments stood at as one of the few drivers to offer an opinion on the wider picture. Fellow GPDA director George Russell was one of many to simply state they will trust in the decisions F1 and the FIA make.

“I mean, in all honesty, I don't read the news, and I'm not aware of what the latest is,” Russell said. “And it's not a decision I'm going to be taking, and they're not going to send us somewhere they don't believe is safe.

“I know people who live there who are locals, I know people who live there who aren't locals, and they all feel comfortable at the moment, there's nothing telling them otherwise. But I'll go where I'm told, and I trust in the people who run the sport.”

Defending champion Lando Norris echoed Russell’s comments, backing the sport’s leaders to prioritize safety.

“I hope it does because I love the places that we go to,” Norris said. “I enjoy Qatar itself, I enjoy Abu Dhabi a lot. I also have a lot of friends that live out there in those two places, and they're happy living out there and being there now. So for their safety, if I'm thinking of them, if they're happy to do it, then so am I.

“I'm sure we wouldn't be going there as a sport, if we didn't believe it would be the case, and I'm sure the FIA and Formula 1 will make the right decisions. I’m happy to.”

With multiple drivers referencing the difference in temperatures if a back-up race in Imola is required, Oscar Piastri added: “The weather in Australia is good this time of the year, so I'm okay with that!

“We might have to get some snowploughs out if we race in Imola, but no, I don't know. I'll leave it to F1. Imola has just been touted as the replacement, then hopefully it's above zero [celsius]. That's all I ask for.”