Carlos Sainz casts doubt on F1 season ending in Middle East with ‘premature’ verdict

Carlos Sainz has admitted it is “difficult to be convinced” that the 2026 Formula 1 season will definitely finish in the Middle East as planned amid the ongoing conflict. 

The situation remains volatile in the region amid the US-Israel war with Iran, while separate to that conflict, the US State Department has ordered some diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as attacks by Houthi rebels escalate.