A ballistic missile strike on an Aramco complex in Dhahran, eastern Saudi Arabia, has brought renewed attention to regional security just weeks before Formula 1 is scheduled to stage the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix. The Lusail event remains on the calendar for November 27-29, with no official indication at present that the race will be changed or cancelled.
Reuters reported that the missile targeted an administrative building belonging to the Saudi oil company. According to the Saudi Energy Ministry, the incident caused a limited fire that was quickly brought under control, while no injuries or fatalities were reported. An internal Aramco source cited by Reuters indicated that the projectile struck the headquarters complex and damaged the upper three floors of an office tower.
Aramco missile strike brings Dhahran into Formula 1 focus
Dhahran is one of the most important centres of Saudi Arabia’s energy industry, but the city also has a recent connection with Formula 1. Aston Martin presented its 2026 Formula 1 car, the AMR26, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, commonly known as Ithra, in Dhahran on February 9.
Aramco is also closely associated with Aston Martin through its sponsorship of the Formula 1 team. That connection, together with Dhahran’s relative proximity to Qatar, has made the incident particularly notable within an F1 context as attention begins to shift towards the final Middle Eastern races of the season.
There is currently no direct evidence connecting the missile attack with the organisation or staging of the Qatar Grand Prix. Formula 1’s 2026 Qatar Grand Prix weekend at Lusail remains scheduled to take place as planned.
Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain set to end the 2026 F1 season
The championship is due to visit Lusail from November 27 to 29 before travelling to Abu Dhabi for the final round of the season. The revised 2026 Formula 1 calendar continues to list Qatar as the penultimate Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi as the championship finale.
The Dhahran attack comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tension. Reuters reported that the strike occurred as clashes involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen, which is allied with Iran, intensified and Saudi infrastructure came under attack.
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali had previously confirmed that the championship intended to complete the season with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. Earlier uncertainty over the regional situation had already prompted Formula 1 to consider contingency options, including the possibility of a European alternative for the final rounds if conditions prevented the Middle Eastern events from going ahead.
No Qatar GP schedule change announced after Dhahran attack
The latest strike therefore puts renewed emphasis on the security assessments that will be required before Formula 1 completes its season. The safety of drivers, team personnel, officials and travelling staff will remain central to any decision surrounding the final races.
For now, however, there has been no official announcement suggesting that either Qatar or Abu Dhabi will be removed from the schedule. Formula 1 and other major sporting organisations have so far continued with their planned Middle Eastern events despite the continuing regional security tensions.
The 2026 calendar therefore remains unchanged, with Lusail set to host Formula 1 at the end of November. Should the regional situation deteriorate significantly, the championship would have to reassess whether the necessary security guarantees can still be provided before proceeding with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi weekends.
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