The F1 series assures that the Abu Dhabi GP will take place.
Abu Dhabi serves as the stage for the final race of the season. PDO
The final round of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi is going to be run according to the original plan, even though there is an acute danger of a terrorist attack hovering over the race.
The competition is scheduled to run on the 24th–26th. November. Due to the political situation in the Middle East flashpoint, the British Foreign Office changed its assessment of the security of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the state.
According to a new assessment, the risk of terrorist attacks against Western tourists is very likely.
– The probability of terrorist attacks targeting Westerners is increasing throughout the Middle East. The assessment applies to places of residence, aviation, military and oil sites, as well as places where large crowds of people gather together. Passengers should exercise special vigilance, especially in public places and events, the British authorities urge.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland updated the travel bulletin for the region at the beginning of October. The safety level is normal, “observe usual caution”.
– In general, a safe tourist country. Vigilance is recommended because there is a risk of terrorist attacks in the country, reads the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The majority of the F1 teams and personnel come from Britain, so it was believed that the deterioration of the security situation would affect the fate of the final round of the season.
Problems before
In the 2011 season, the Bahrain GP was canceled as a result of the Arab Spring and the weakened security situation.
Now there is no need for something similar. The race organizers interviewed by Autosport assure that the race will take place according to the original plan. According to Autosport, the situation has also been made clear to the teams and their staff.
F1 got a dangerous reminder of the fiery situation in the Middle East last year, when the Yemenis launched a rocket attack on Saudi Arabia in the middle of the F1 races. The rockets hit an oil refinery located only twenty kilometers from the Jeddah race track.
The continuation of the race weekend was in the balance for a while. The drivers would have liked to put their whistles in the bag, but after pressure and assurances from the race hosts, the races continued.
In recent years, the oil giants of the Middle East have gained a solid grip on the Formula Ones politically. From the countries of the Middle East, the competition is held in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Especially Saudi Arabia has poured a lot of money into the series. The state oil company Aramco is the official main partner of both F1 and the Aston Martin team.
Saudi Arabia has expressed its desire to buy the entire series for its ownership. So far, the American Liberty Media has not agreed to sell it.