FIA president says Qatar and Abu Dhabi ready to host F1 season finale

PARIS -- The FIA was “fully prepared” for Qatar and Abu Dhabi to host the final two races in Formula 1, president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on Tuesday.

The status of the two races has been in question since the Iran war forced the Bahrain Grand Prix to be moved to Malaysia and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to be canceled.

“We are ready for Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Ben Sulayem posted on Instagram. “We are fully prepared and committed to delivering two outstanding Grand Prix weekends and a spectacular conclusion to the (F1 championship)."

Ben Sulayem, who is from the United Arab Emirates, which includes Abu Dhabi, did not give any details of the preparations or security arrangements. “We are working closely with our partners to ensure everything is in place for our drivers, teams and fans,” he added.

The FIA approves the F1 calendar as the series' governing body, but it doesn't directly decide who gets to host a race.

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That is a matter for F1, whose president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali has repeatedly said that Qatar and Abu Dhabi are the preferred options to end the season. The Imola circuit in Italy has been considered as a backup option.

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