Lewis Hamilton “hopes” Formula One presses ahead with ending this season in the Middle East despite the ongoing United States-Iran conflict.
The campaign is scheduled to finish with rounds in Qatar on November 29 and then in Abu Dhabi a week later. Imola has been placed on standby if the races cannot take place.
UK’s current Foreign Office advice says the situation in the region “remains unpredictable” and that there is “a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation”.
And there is unease within the paddock about going to the area. It is understood some of the sport’s 2,000-strong travelling circus – of which 10 of the 11 teams are based in the UK – have expressed a will not to attend.
However, speaking ahead of Saturday’s fixture in Azerbaijan, which borders Iran, Hamilton said: “I personally want to go. I love going to the Middle East.
“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 (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali) to make the right decision for the sport. And I do hope we get to go there.”
It had been anticipated a decision on whether the races go ahead would be taken by the middle of this month.
However, F1 is prepared to wait. There is no firm timeline in place, and the expectation as it stands, is that at least one of the races will be staged. Tickets remain on sale for both events.
The rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled earlier this year, although a ‘Bahrain Grand Prix’ will unusually be staged at Malaysia’s Sepang venue, south of Kuala Lumpur, in a week’s time.
Next year’s calendar is due to begin in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part of a 24-race schedule with sprint events increasing from six to 10.
Monaco will host a sprint round for the first time and the move to add a second race in the principality – a venue where overtaking is notoriously impossible – has raised eyebrows.
It is hoped a second qualifying session (required for a sprint event) will be the payback for the sport’s fans. Qualifying in the principality is regarded as one of the challenges of the season.
But Hamilton, 41, said: “It makes no sense to me. I have always said Monaco needs to be different. I don’t think it should be the same race formula as everywhere else.
“We have included sprint races, and I think that has brought something new to the sport – and it is a positive that we get another qualifying session (in Monaco) – but we need to come up with something new for somewhere like that.
“It is a beautiful place, a beautiful country, and an incredible circuit to drive, but the races are as dull as it gets. Sprint races are not the answer.”
Next year’s regular events will also be decreased by nine miles – the equivalent of three or four fewer laps dependent on the venue – so the teams do not have to build bigger fuel tanks for the updated engine regulations.
However, Hamilton continued: “The races should be longer because they are physically easier than ever before.
“This is supposed to be a sport which is the most physically and mentally demanding, and there are some where you are on the edge.
“But that is where you want to see – athletes right on the edge of performance and pushing their bodies further, pushing the levels and pushing the boundaries. Shortening the races makes absolutely no sense to me.”