Lewis Hamilton shares his opinion on racing in the Middle East: "I personally want to go"

Dubai: Lewis Hamilton hopes Formula One’s season can still conclude with the scheduled races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite uncertainty surrounding the final rounds of the championship.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton said he would be happy to return to the Middle East and trusted Formula One to make the right decision regarding the races.

“I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East,” Hamilton said. “From what I have read, things seem OK out there, but I don’t have all the information, and I don’t know what the risk levels are.

“I trust in Stefano [Domenicali, F1’s chief executive] to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.”

Hamilton has regularly spoken positively about racing in the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi providing the traditional backdrop to the F1 season finale. The Yas Marina Circuit has hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, including several memorable moments in Hamilton’s career.

The races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on Formula One’s schedule, although a contingency plan involving Imola is understood to be available if the final two rounds cannot take place. Both venues are hosted as the final races for the 2026 F1 season.

The uncertainty could also have implications for the championship. Kimi Antonelli currently leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine rounds remaining. Hamilton holds the third position in the standings with 191 points.

Earlier this year, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were postponed amid regional tensions, with Bahrain’s race rescheduled for Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Formula One is understood to need to stage at least 23 races to meet its commitments to broadcasters, making a replacement finale a possibility if further races are cancelled.

Nevertheless, Hamilton will be more than happy to race across Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit along with Qatar.