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F1 Confirms Contingency Plans for Qatar and Abu Dhabi Races, Seeks Silverstone Support from Starmer

Domenicali visits Downing Street to press Starmer for Silverstone road upgrades, visa reforms that safeguard the British Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - June 15, 2025 Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali ahead of the race REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger/File Photo
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Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 20, 2025 Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore and Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali arrive before the race REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki/File Photo
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Overview

  • Domenicali says there’s no current signal to relocate the Qatar (Nov 30) and Abu Dhabi (Dec 7) races but contingency plans are ready if Middle East tensions escalate.
  • The championship maintains daily contact with Middle East promoters, who remain relaxed despite recent Israel-Iran hostilities and lessons from the 2022 Houthi attacks.
  • At Downing Street today, F1’s chief executive will urge the government to fund critical road infrastructure around Silverstone ahead of this weekend’s race.
  • Seven of ten F1 teams are based in the UK and continue to face costly, time-consuming visa and logistical hurdles after Brexit, prompting calls for streamlined entry processes.
  • Silverstone, the first world championship venue in 1950 with a contract through 2034, supports an ecosystem that contributes £12 billion annually to the UK economy.