Max Verstappen has said if it was up to him Formula 1 would not finish the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi due to the ongoing United States-Iran conflict.
F1’s season is due to finish with races in Qatar on Nov. 29 and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 6, with the sport due to make a call on whether to go ahead in mid-October.
Italian circuit Imola is on stand-by to finish the season on Dec. 6 if the two Middle East rounds have to be called off due to ongoing hostilities in the region. Verstappen has made his stance on where the season should end clear.
“Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go,” he told ViaPlay.
“Then, it doesn’t matter if you have a contract or not, I think. But it’s not up to me.”
UK’s current Foreign Office advice says the situation in the region “remains unpredictable” and that there is “a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton voiced the opposite opinion, saying he would like to see the season finish in the Middle East as scheduled.
“I personally want to go,” Hamilton said this week.
“I love going to the Middle East. “From what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don’t have all the information, and I don’t know what the risk levels are.
“I trust in [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.”
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Imola’s circuit has already started building grandstands in preparation for holding a race. The Italian venue dropped off the calendar as a regular race host after last season’s event.
The potential of Imola’s race stepping in means the prospect of a season finale in northern Italy in early December, with cold temperatures and increased chances of rain and snow.
Asked if he was satisfied by the idea of Imola at that time of year, Verstappen said: “Yes, it will probably be very chaotic with our rain tyres. But taking everything into consideration, I’m fine with it. It’s a good track.”
