F1 needs to make a decision on Imola substitute race within a week

Formula 1 will need to inform Imola of its intention to keep preparing to host a race this year by the end of next week, amid uncertainty over the final rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Concerns over a potential increase in military action related to the war with Iran has continued to cast doubt of whether the two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi can go ahead as scheduled, with F1 also putting a contingency plan in place of a final round at Imola. While that has allowed more time for the situation to play out in order to make as late a decision as possible, the circuit in Italy needs confirmation of whether to continue with preparations or not in the coming weeks.

While F1 sources would not confirm a hard date, RACER understands the green light to proceed with work for a Dec. 6 race date will realistically be required by the end of next week. Should that not be given, it does not necessarily mean the remaining two races will continue as planned, as the scenario remains that the season could finish in Las Vegas in the event of an escalation in hostilities.

F1 is currently monitoring the situation in Qatar where Liberty Media-owned MotoGP is racing this weekend, although the Yamaha team pulled out of that event due to wider company travel restrictions. 19 of the 22 riders also voiced their opposition to racing in the region, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff backed the FIA approach and suggested the riders lacked full understanding of the situation.

“Stefano [Domenicali, F1 president and CEO] and Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA president] have been pretty clear about the situation that Formula 1 follows what the international guidelines are, whether there are travel restrictions, airlines not flying, any warnings in the region, the kind of feedback that local governments are making,” Wolff said. “So not only the promoters, but what the local governments are making. And this is what you need to rely on, in my opinion, and I’m fully with that.

“I think that if riders stand up, who know nothing geopolitically about what’s going on, but have an audience that listens, I think that is something that creates media value. But I would have done the same as MotoGP management has done. You want to ride or drive, go. If you don’t want to, don’t go. It’s as simple as that, and everybody can take their personal decisions on that, and I respect that.

“Of course, you’ve got to be wary of what’s happening in the next few days, a few weeks, and Stefano has his finger on the pulse to monitor that. If things were to get more dangerous and we would get that feedback, then he’s going to be the first one, together with Mohammed, to protect the people that were meant to travel. So that’s why I’m following their guidance.

“From what I’m hearing internally, it hasn’t been raised. It hasn’t been a topic. But also there, if someone feels they don’t feel comfortable, he or she doesn’t feel comfortable traveling, then it’s something that I would always respect. And maybe that’s an opportunity to give somebody else a chance. It wouldn’t change anything for the relationship. I’ve always respected that some people didn’t want to go to certain grands prix, and that’s how I see it at the moment.”