Liberty boss went to Qatar in person before F1 gave its Gulf finale the green light
Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang travelled to Qatar for last weekend's MotoGP race to see the situation for himself before Formula 1 committed to its Gulf finale. F1 also has its own staff in both Doha and Abu Dhabi, and one trigger could still bring the whole plan down.
On the heels of a MotoGP race in Qatar, Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang personally visited the country to assess safety conditions before Formula 1 locked in its Gulf finale. F1 had already dispatched staff to both Doha and Abu Dhabi for direct assessments. The news came after Liberty Media reported that FOM had decided in principle to halt preparations in Imola, with F1 confirming the decision later that same day.
Qatar is scheduled to host its race on November 29th, followed by Abu Dhabi on December 6th. Reports indicate that F1 and the FIA have taken government travel advisories into serious consideration. A single travel ban could be the trigger to prematurely end the season, as it would affect insurance policies for both teams and drivers.
While no formal travel ban has been issued, individual governments have expressed concerns over potential risks. F1 officials maintained that travel advisories still permit attendance, and insurance policies remain valid. All 11 teams have reportedly given their support to the plan, with Imola's backup race costing around $10 to 15 million.
Despite these concerns, F1 emphasized that safety remains their top priority and they will act if conditions deteriorate before the races. If the Gulf races are canceled, Las Vegas could become the season's final event in 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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