Big motorsport event moved from Saudi Arabia due to rising F1 safety worries
There’s been a lot of talk recently about whether Formula 1 will finish its season in the Middle East. Because of safety concerns, Saudi Arabia has decided to move one of its biggest motorsport events out of the country.
The Dakar Rally, a huge off-road race with 4x4s, trucks, and bikes crossing the tough Saudi desert, won’t be held there this time due to ongoing conflicts in the area. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz shared their thoughts this weekend about racing in the Middle East, while FIA President Mohammed Bin Sulayem remains confident the events will go ahead.
But the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, confirmed that the 2027 Dakar Rally, planned for January 3-17, won’t take place in Saudi Arabia. Last time, over 400 people joined the event. Now, it’s expected the rally might move back to Africa, where it started—in 1978, first in Africa and later in South America. The rally has been in Saudi since 2020.
Recently, two Saudi airports were attacked by Houthi rebels from Yemen, causing tragic deaths, including a pilot. This has made some Formula 1 drivers worried about racing nearby in places like Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The rebels have even said they might target planes flying over Saudi airspace. The British government has advised people to avoid traveling to parts of Saudi Arabia for safety.
Carlos Sainz, whose father is signed up for Dakar, said, “It’s hard to feel sure right now. There’s still a lot happening in the Middle East, and also some important elections and political changes coming up that could affect things.” He added that while it feels early to be certain, if the FIA and Formula 1 say it’s safe to race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the drivers would follow their lead.
Max Verstappen said, “If there’s a war nearby and countries are in conflict, I don’t think we should go—contracts don’t matter in that situation.”
Despite these worries, FIA President Mohammed Bin Sulayem is staying optimistic about the races. When asked, he simply said, “Yeah – fine.” He pointed out that his own children are in the UAE and he wouldn’t leave them there if it wasn’t safe. He also mentioned that what’s reported in the media isn’t the full picture, saying, “We don’t see the issues they talk about on TV.” While he can’t predict the future, he confirmed, “Right now, everything is fine, and the two races will happen.”