DOHA — Qatar is pressing ahead with preparations to host two major international motorsport events in November, with MotoGP and Formula 1 both still scheduled to race at Lusail International Circuit despite continuing uncertainty in the Middle East.
Abdul Rahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, president of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), said Tuesday that preparations for the 2026 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix and Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix remain underway.
“Everything is a go-ahead” for now, Al Mannai said, while acknowledging that developments in the region could still affect the plans.
Qatar is scheduled to host MotoGP from November 6 to 8, with the main race on November 8, according to Lusail International Circuit. Formula 1 is scheduled to follow later in the month, with the Qatar Grand Prix set for November 29.
But the calendar is not yet completely secure.
F1 decision expected in September
Formula 1 has said it will make a final assessment around mid-September on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races can proceed.
If the two Middle Eastern races cannot be held, F1 has indicated that the 2026 season would instead finish in Europe. Earlier reporting said Imola was among the potential alternatives being considered if a replacement venue becomes necessary.
That makes the coming weeks particularly important for Qatar’s November race.
Al Mannai said Qatar is continuing its preparations rather than waiting for circumstances to become certain.
“We cannot stop the plans. We have to be ready,” he said, adding that officials are assessing the situation step by step.
MotoGP also remains under scrutiny
The MotoGP situation is similar, although the championship has continued working toward holding the Qatar round at Lusail.
MotoGP Deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta said in late August that the championship was working with the Qatari government to keep the race on the 2026 calendar. The event had originally been scheduled for April but was postponed and moved to November because of the regional situation.
MotoGP has nevertheless kept contingency planning open. Motorsport.com reported earlier in August that organizers had not ruled out moving the Qatar Grand Prix to another venue if circumstances made the event impossible to stage safely.
For now, however, Lusail remains the planned destination.
Why Lusail matters
Lusail International Circuit has become one of the most recognizable venues on the international motorsport calendar.
The circuit first hosted MotoGP in 2004 and became the venue for MotoGP’s first night race in 2008. Formula 1 made its Qatar debut at Lusail in 2021, before Qatar signed a longer-term agreement to remain on the F1 calendar.
The 2026 calendar was originally shaping up to give Lusail an unusually busy stretch of international racing, with MotoGP and Formula 1 both scheduled to visit in November.
The World Endurance Championship, however, has already cancelled its planned October 24 event in Qatar, underscoring how regional uncertainty has affected international motorsport scheduling.
Qatar says conditions are stable
QMMF president Al Mannai argued that Qatar is currently operating normally and said the country’s airport is fully operational.
He said Qatar has been safe for months and that officials remain confident about preparing for the races while continuing to monitor developments.
That position is important because the decision is not simply about whether a circuit is ready. International racing involves teams, drivers, riders, staff, suppliers, freight operations and thousands of spectators traveling across borders.
Any deterioration in the regional security environment could therefore force motorsport authorities to reconsider their plans.
The bigger question for Formula 1
The Qatar Grand Prix also carries financial significance for Formula 1.
Middle Eastern races generate substantial hosting revenue, with hosting fees reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. That gives the region an important place in F1’s commercial strategy, even as safety and logistics remain the overriding considerations.
For Qatar, the stakes are equally significant. Successfully staging both MotoGP and Formula 1 would reinforce Lusail’s position as a major international motorsport destination.
For now, the message from Qatar is clear: prepare as if the races are happening, while remaining ready for circumstances to change.
MotoGP is scheduled for November 8.
Formula 1 is scheduled for November 29.
But with Formula 1’s crucial mid-September decision approaching, the biggest question may not be whether Qatar is ready.
It is whether the region will remain stable enough for the racing world to arrive.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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