The concluding races of the Formula One season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will proceed as scheduled, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Stefano Domenicali, the sport’s chief executive, who made the announcement on Saturday.

Domenicali confirmed to French broadcaster Canal+ during the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was moved to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, that all arrangements for the events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain intact. “Based on the information available to us, we are set to hold the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” he stated.

Additionally, in an interview with Sky Sport Italia, he reaffirmed the dates for the last two Grands Prix of the year, scheduled for Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6.

This season, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix were canceled following the onset of the US-led military action against Iran.

Domenicali expressed confidence that “everything is proceeding as planned” and emphasized that “teams and drivers are being kept well-informed about the circumstances.” He also noted that 99% of tickets for the Abu Dhabi race had been sold, indicating a high level of enthusiasm for the season finale.

Despite the organizational assurances, not all drivers are eager to race in the Gulf region. Max Verstappen, who will be starting from pole position in Malaysia this weekend, expressed his reservations earlier in the week, stating he would prefer the season not to conclude in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “While I usually enjoy visiting Qatar and Abu Dhabi, I feel that with a war occurring nearby and some countries in conflict, we should reconsider our participation,” he remarked to ViaPlay. “Ultimately, it’s not my decision to make, regardless of the contracts in place.”

Among the alternatives explored was the possibility of relocating the race in Abu Dhabi to Imola, Italy.