“It’s not that I said I didn’t want to race there. I just said that I love going there, but of course under the right terms.”
That was Max Verstappen’s answer to reporters at the rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, where he was pressed twice on whether he would boycott the season-ending races in the region.
“Like I said, I trust that they will make the right call.”
Where the warning came from
Weeks earlier, Verstappen had used a Viaplay interview before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to warn F1 away from the season-ending races in Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6.
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“Normally I am happy to go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but you know, when there is a war nearby, and if some of the countries are in conflict with each other, then I think we shouldn’t go,” he told the Dutch broadcaster.
The Red Bull driver added that contracts should not override safety.
“Then, it doesn’t matter if you have a contract or not, I think. But it’s not up to me.”
Hamilton wants to race
Lewis Hamilton has taken the opposite view when asked the same question.
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“I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East. I trust in Stefano to make the right decision for the sport,” the Ferrari driver said.
F1 holds the calendar
Stefano Domenicali has publicly confirmed the schedule is unchanged. Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6 remain the final two rounds of 2026, with Imola kept as a possible replacement finale if the Middle East leg has to be dropped.
The Bahrain round itself was moved to Sepang earlier this month, after conflict in the region forced the original Sakhir race off the calendar.
Before then, F1 heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix on October 25, followed by Mexico City and São Paulo, with Qatar scheduled to open the Middle East finale on November 29.
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