Lewis Hamilton has voiced his hope that Formula One will be able to complete its current season with the scheduled rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite uncertainty surrounding the events due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Hamilton made his comments ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Formula One is reportedly proceeding with its original schedule, though a contingency plan exists to hold a final race in Imola should the situation in the Middle East necessitate the cancellation of both meetings. Hamilton stated, "I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East," and expressed trust in F1's CEO, Stefano Domenicali, to make the correct decision.
The potential cancellation of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races could impact the world championship. Earlier this year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the war, with the Bahrain race subsequently moved to Sepang in Malaysia. F1 is believed to require at least 23 races to fulfil its commitments to broadcasters.
While promoters are reportedly confident the races will go ahead, the situation remains unsettled. Singer Zara Larsson, who was confirmed to perform in Abu Dhabi, later stated she would not be attending, citing "many different personal reasons beyond politics."