Major motorsport series postpones season-opener as Middle East crisis continues

The FIA World Endurance Championship has postponed its season prologue and season-opening race in Qatar, as the Middle East crisis worsens.

Over the weekend, the United States and Israel conducted air strikes and military action against Iran, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being killed, and Iran launching retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf.

Sites in Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai have been hit, with major travel disruption through the Gulf and the major transit airports, with F1 personnel forced to adjust their travel arrangements to reach Australia for the season-opening grand prix this weekend.

The WEC was set for its traditional prologue on the weekend of March 22nd/23rd, before the season-opening Qatar 1812km race, which is limited to 10 hours.

This was due to take place over the following weekend on March 28th, but both events have now been postponed, with the race itself pushed back until "later in the year," owing to the uncertainty of the crisis, in which US President Donald Trump has said the "big wave" is yet to come. 

The first round of the season will therefore be the Imola 6 Hours across the weekend of 17-19 April. 

The news of the postponements comes as F1 continues to monitor the ever-changing situation across the Gulf, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix set for the weekends of April 12th and April 19th, respectively. 

RacingNews365 understands that the situation is continually being monitored with F1 still having time before reaching a decision over whether to cancel the races, which are the planned fourth and fifth races of the season. 

Should the grands prix be cancelled, there are multiple venues which could step in at short notice, including Imola and Portimao in Portugal. 

Imola was on the calendar until 2025 before falling away to make room for the new Spanish GP in Madrid, but is understood to be a first reserve race should one be cancelled.

As for Portimao on the Algarve coast, it stepped in at short notice to host two grands prix in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 hit seasons, with the race set to return to the calendar in 2027. It therefore remains a Grade 1 FIA homologated circuit, a requirement to host grands prix. 

The article continues below. 

Statement from FIA president

"The safety and wellbeing of our community will always be the FIA’s first priority, and I thank our Member Club the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, Lusail International Circuit, the ACO and our championship colleagues for the measured and collaborative approach that has led to this decision," said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

"As the opening event of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Qatar 1812km holds a special place for many fans, drivers and teams alike, and we will work closely with all involved to reschedule the race for later in the 2026 season.

"The FIA continues to monitor developments across the region and our thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events as we hope for calm, safety and a return to stability."

The president of the Automobile Club de I'Ouest Pierre Fillon added that the WEC's thoughts were with the victims of the "terrible conflict."

Pierre Fillon, President, Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), said:

“First and foremost, I must stress that our primary thoughts are with the victims of this terrible conflict," he said.

"At times like these, sporting interests are clearly secondary, which is why a decision has been quickly taken that the event cannot proceed at the present time.  

"We are working hard with Lusail International Circuit and the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation to find the best alternative to allow the Qatar 1812km to take place at a later date in 2026, and we thank all parties for their earnest support, cooperation and understanding in this matter."