Formula E has issued a defiant statement surrounding its scheduled season-opener in Saudi Arabia, following the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The all-electric championship's new season and Gen4 regulatory cycle are set to get underway at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit from December 17th to 19th; however, other categories have actively moved events away from Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict.
F1 cancelled its race in Jeddah earlier this year in April, while the FIA and World Rally Championship announced on Thursday afternoon that they had moved their finale from Saudi Arabia to Italy.
While F1 opted against racing in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain earlier this year – Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix next month – it remains to be confirmed whether its final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will take place.
In addition, F1 announced on Wednesday that its 2027 season will start in the Middle East, with a question mark already being raised as to whether it will be possible.
In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has become more involved in the conflict, with a region just 300 kilometres from Jeddah having recently been targeted by missiles from the Houthi rebels. The nation has also used ballistic missiles itself.
Despite this and other championships moving events away from Saudi Arabia, Formula E remains fully intent on starting its new season in the country.
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Formula E still intent on Saudi Arabia season start
A decision on whether the Jeddah E-Prix can take place does not need to be made until closer to the middle of November, when pre-season testing takes place in Madrid.
One Formula E team informed RacingNews365 that it does not need significant notice regarding Jeddah, as it will simply be a case of freight heading there after Madrid or, instead, to Mexico City, which will host the second round.
Preparation is already ongoing in Jeddah for Formula E, with the championship monitoring the situation closely.
In a statement issued to RacingNews365, Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer Alberto Longo said: "We are looking forward to opening the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Jeddah this December and launching the revolutionary Gen4 era.
"As with all our international events, we continuously monitor the situation on the ground alongside local promoter partners, authorities, and international security experts.
"The safety and security of everyone involved in the championship is always our top priority. Preparations for the season opener at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are ongoing, and we will update all stakeholders should there be any developments."
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