P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has issued a statement on the uncertainty posed by the Iran conflict
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasizes that “safety and wellbeing” are paramount in deciding on Formula 1 races in the Middle East amid the Iran conflict. The recent US and Israel strikes on Iran have caused regional destabilization, resulting in travel chaos with closed airports and airspace. Paddock personnel are affected with travel disruptions to the 2026 F1 season-opener in Australia and return from Thailand’s MotoGP round. Organisers assure paddock personnel arrival in Melbourne via charter flights, while F1 closely monitors the situation for upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The FIA World Endurance Championship faces uncertainty with events in Qatar suspended, leading Sulayem to express sympathy and highlight safety as the top priority, emphasizing unity within the FIA amidst the crisis.
