There has been no clearer recent sign of Formula 1’s promoters standing together than in the Gulf this year.
This season, the sport’s Middle East hosts have supported each other through the most politically turbulent calendar in recent memory.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain both lost their races earlier this year as escalating tensions between Iran and the United States made hosting the sport untenable.
F1 took the decision to pull both rounds – a significant blow to two of the most commercially important venues and a signal that the region’s political situation could yet reshape the second half of the season.
The Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix towards the end of the championship, with Abu Dhabi’s season finale to follow.
Both events remain on the calendar, but neither is beyond the reach of the same forces that cancelled their neighbours’ races.
“It’s been stressful,” Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Chairman, Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, told Sector.
“It’s been very difficult for everybody with the political situation. We understand the decision of Formula One not to come for the two rounds. We’re hoping that things will get better.”
What has emerged through the disruption, though, is a tighter working relationship between the Gulf’s race promoters.
We share ideas all the time between us and Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Bahrain – sometimes we share resources as well for these races.
Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai
Al Mannai confirmed that Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have remained in active communication throughout as they navigate circumstances largely outside their control.
“We share ideas all the time between us and Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Bahrain – sometimes we share resources as well for these races,” he said.
“Not having the race – it’s not good, just not good only for us. It’s not good for everybody.
“We are scheduled towards the end of the championship, which I think makes it even more exciting because you never know who’s going to win.
“It’s going to definitely have an impact on tourism and ticket sales and all of that. It’s going to be negative.”
Qatar is pressing ahead regardless. Al Mannai confirmed F1 remains in constant dialogue with QMMF and that no changes have been made to the November event, while ticket sales have been strong so far.
Another reason QMMF will be keen for the race to go ahead is the commercial momentum they’re building around the event itself.
The hospitality expansion is evidence of that – they’re not just selling tickets, they’re actively investing in the race day product. Which makes the potential loss of the race sting even more commercially.
Qatar partnered with restaurant group Cipriani for last year’s race, and Al Mannai indicated more branded hospitality tie-ups are in the pipeline.
He pointed to the MSC Cruises ship hospitality structure deployed at the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix as an example of the direction the sport’s promoters are collectively moving in.
“The demand was crazy last year on hospitalities and ticket sales and we’re trying to add more this year,” he said.
“In Miami they had this cruise ship – which was a fantastic idea. So it seems that many promoters are going towards more themed hospitalities and we’re doing the same.
“Each sponsor has its own identity and look and feel and they have their own customers that they want to have during the race. So they try to keep it with an identity. I think this is going to continue stronger and stronger over the next few years.”
Ambitions beyond F1
Al Mannai explained how hosting F1 at Lusail International Circuit is only one piece of what QMMF is building, with a keen eye on developing Qatari drivers for the future.
“We have different responsibilities,” he said.
“One of them is hosting and organising races. At the same time we are also responsible for developing talent in Qatar.
We want to see Qatari drivers picked up by teams and companies, and even one day a Formula One driver. This is what we are looking at.”
F1 may be the flagship, but Al Mannai was clear that the broader events calendar is strategically important in its own right.
The variety of championships hosted at Lusail – across circuit racing, rallying and endurance – serves both the fan development and talent pipeline ambitions simultaneously.
“Having these national and international events is really important because it’s a nice variety,” he said.
“It caters for anybody who loves motorsport in one or several classes.”
That breadth extends to QMMF’s involvement as a competitor, not just a promoter.
Team Qatar will make history at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – the first Qatari team to compete at the event in its century-plus of history.
“It brings a lot of pride,” Al Mannai said.
“This is the first Qatar team to compete in the over 100-year history of Le Mans.”
