Ferrari will allow staff members to opt out of travelling to the 2026 Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix if they have concerns about their safety, with team principal Fred Vasseur confirming that their decisions will be respected. Mercedes has adopted the same approach, while Aston Martin has revealed that employees’ families are also seeking reassurance as Formula 1 prepares to conclude its season in the Middle East.
Formula 1 is pressing ahead with its plans to hold the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, ruling out Imola as an alternative venue despite the ongoing conflict involving Iran. All teams are understood to support the decision, although concerns about the regional security situation remain within the paddock. Ferrari and Mercedes are among those addressing how to handle staff members who may feel uncomfortable travelling.
Ferrari and Mercedes confirm approach to Qatar and Abu Dhabi safety concerns
During the team principals’ press conference at the São Paulo Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explained that no member of his team had yet raised concerns about travelling to the final two races. However, he made it clear that anyone who did not feel comfortable making the journey would be allowed to remain at the team’s headquarters without facing any consequences. A replacement would be arranged in their absence.
Ferrari has adopted the same policy, according to internal team sources who confirmed the position to ScuderiaFans. Fred Vasseur explained that, with nine races taking place across eleven weeks, the Maranello team is currently concentrating on the demanding final stretch of the championship. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the question of travelling to the Middle East could arise as the final two Grands Prix approach.
The Ferrari team principal made the team’s position clear: “If anyone has concerns and doesn’t want to come, we will respect their decision.”
The approach means Ferrari personnel will not be forced to travel if they have reservations about their personal safety. It also places Ferrari and Mercedes on the same footing as both teams prepare for the final stages of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Aston Martin reveals concerns from employees’ families
At Aston Martin, the situation described by Mike Krack is more immediate. The team’s concerns are not limited to employees working in the paddock, with family members also asking for assurances about the safety of those travelling to Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
However, Aston Martin cannot provide complete guarantees about the security situation. That uncertainty has added another dimension to the discussions surrounding the final two races of the season.
Like Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur, Mike Krack expressed full confidence in Formula 1’s overall risk assessment. The championship’s organisers have access to more information than individual teams, placing them in a stronger position to evaluate the situation and determine whether the events can proceed safely.
FIA also prepared to let personnel skip Middle East F1 races
Safety concerns surrounding the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix extend beyond the Formula 1 teams themselves. According to GPblog, the FIA will also allow personnel who fear for their personal safety to withdraw from the trips, provided that a replacement is available to take their place.
Meanwhile, Red Bull has not yet publicly clarified how it would handle potential requests from employees wishing to miss the races. The same uncertainty applies to Racing Bulls, which is also part of the Red Bull organisation.
The issue comes as Formula 1 maintains its commitment to holding the final two rounds in the Middle East. The decision has already ended Imola’s hopes of replacing one of the remaining 2026 Grands Prix, although the security situation continues to attract attention.
Television broadcasters consider covering Qatar and Abu Dhabi remotely
The uncertainty is also affecting media organisations preparing to cover the final two Formula 1 weekends. German newspaper Bild reports that some television rights holders are considering broadcasting the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix without sending their own crews to the circuits.
Such an arrangement would not be unprecedented. A similar approach was adopted by some broadcasters for the MotoGP event at Lusail, allowing coverage to continue without requiring all personnel to travel to the venue.
For Formula 1, these considerations underline the distinction between officially confirming that a Grand Prix will go ahead and ensuring that everyone involved feels comfortable attending it.
Ferrari and Mercedes are therefore preparing to fulfil their commitments to the final two races while leaving individual staff members free to make their own decisions. With the championship heading towards its conclusion in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the teams’ willingness to respect those concerns highlights the continuing uncertainty surrounding the Middle East events.
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