FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has issued an official statement in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has created uncertainty regarding the upcoming Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship (WEC) races. The situation, which includes missile attacks following a strike by the United States and Israel against Iran, has resulted in reprisals from Iran affecting countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.
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This scenario has already led to the cancellation of a two-day Pirelli test that was to be held in Bahrain, with the closure of airspaces and airports, leaving employees from Pirelli, McLaren, and Mercedes stranded in the region. The start of the WEC season in Qatar is scheduled for this month, while Formula 1 has races scheduled for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.
Ben Sulayem expressed solidarity with the victims of the conflict and highlighted the importance of dialogue and the protection of civilians in an official statement, which says: “As FIA President, my thoughts are with all those affected by the recent events in the Middle East. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand in solidarity with the families and communities impacted”.
“In this time of uncertainty, we hope for calm, safety, and a swift return to stability. Dialogue and the protection of civilians must remain priorities. We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams, and colleagues on the ground, as we monitor developments with care and responsibility”.
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“Safety and well-being will guide our decisions as we evaluate the upcoming events scheduled for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Our organization is built on unity and a shared purpose. This unity matters now more than ever,” the statement concludes.
In this way, the FIA President reinforced that the safety and well-being of everyone involved will be the priority when evaluating the feasibility of competitions in the affected regions.
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