According to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Turkish GP could possibly appear on the F1 calendar as early as this season, depending on the situation in the Middle East. Due to the ongoing war, the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have already been canceled. It is still unclear whether the Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi can take place later this year. Behind the scenes, alternative scenarios are being considered, such as an early return of Istanbul.
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One of the options is to still fit Bahrain or Saudi Arabia later in the year, possibly in the weekend between Azerbaijan and Singapore. An extra busy final phase of the season is also being considered, possibly even a quadruple header, followed by a later season finale in December. However, if the situation does not improve, Turkey will come into focus as a replacement, despite the race officially returning to the calendar only from next year; in April it was announced that Istanbul Park has signed a five-year contract.
Uncertainty
“As for Qatar, we could postpone the race by a week, or shift everything,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the race weekend in Miami. “If not, then maybe we could already go to Turkey this year, provided all homologation requirements are met in time. Logistically, the question is what the best scenario is, but we are in consultation with all promoters. It’s about where we want to go, and we will try to make it possible, without putting pressure on our staff. That would be too much.”
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At the same time, the FIA President emphasizes that the situation goes beyond just the sport. “There is a bigger problem than just motorsport; our way of life is under pressure,” said Ben Sulayem, who is himself from Dubai. “All the changes, the tensions in that area.” He praised the way local governments did not seek retaliation after the outbreak of the war violence. “That takes courage,” said the Emirati. “And sport can always wait. What is more important: people or motorsport?” he asked rhetorically. “Let’s hope the conflict ends quickly, so we can all return to a normal way of life. God forbid it lasts until October or November. In that case, planned races simply will not take place: safety comes first.”
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